Educational Leadership

The Educational Leadership program was created as part of the Cambridge Professional Development Qualifications (Cambridge PDQs) the tradition of which guarantees professional authority and insight into the latest trends of educational improvement from the leadership standpoint.

Who is the program for?

This program is designed for all principals, assistant principals and teachers who actively manage primary and secondary schools, or institutions of higher education. In other words, it is for those who want to manage their teams as best they can so as to improve the performance of their educational institution, and education in general.

To work in education means to have a vision, and the very fact you have chosen this profession makes you an exceptional person. The role of a leader can often be difficult and challenging, but you can make it more interesting and manageable. The Educational Leadership program will open up new perspectives and renew your enthusiasm. 

What knowledge and skills will you acquire in the Educational Leadership program?

Your role is not only to take care of the administration, but also to encourage your employees to develop their professional and personal skills, as well as to provide support and continuously work on the improvement of your institution and education in general. In addition, you are in a position that allows you to demonstrate the value of your team to the parents and the community through continued collaboration with them.  

This program will teach you the principles, theories and best international examples of good practice that you will be able to critically evaluate, see the advantages and disadvantages of, and apply those that best work in your school environment.  You will also learn how to easily evaluate the results of the measures you implemented, and how to plan further steps toward the success of your institution, teachers and students in a feasible and cost-effective manner.

You can learn everything about the professional courses and workshops available at the  Cambridge Teaching Center here.

Course program

The Educational Leadership program allows you to acquire a certificate and a diploma. After completing the first module, you become eligible for the certificate, and if afterwards, you complete the second and the third module, you will become eligible for the diploma.  

CERTIFICATE

Module 1: Analyzing the concept of leadership

The first module comprises 3 separate units the combination of which enables comprehensive professional development which involves theoretical elements and their practical applications:

  1. The concept and theories of leadership

Introducing students to the concept of leadership with special emphasis on its meaning in the educational context. The questions that will be answered in this unit include:

  • What theories of leadership are most relevant for education professionals and why?
  • What do these theories offer in practice, in terms of individual professional development and educational practice improvement?
  • How can I adapt my practice to the most adequate leadership style?
  1. Successful educational leader in practice

Students will have the opportunity to: 

  • Learn what research says about successful educational leadership;
  • Interview an experienced leader and discuss what successful leadership looks like in practice; 
  • Identify specific skills they need to develop as leaders.
  1. Leadership development planning

Students will expand their knowledge and have the opportunity to:

  • Choose a leadership style and specific patterns of behavior for their leadership practice;
  • Make a presentation on how to implement these ideas in their professional practice;
  • Assess their leadership practice identifying its strengths and weaknesses;
  • Determine their priorities and create a plan for developing their leadership practice.

DIPLOMA

Module 2: Leading and improving teaching and learning

In the second module, students will learn how to influence teachers and the quality of instruction as leaders, as well as how to design a strategy for improving their own performance and the performance of their school as a whole. Using different methods, they will master the key theories and skills for effective management of a group or a team, while keeping track of the outcomes of these measures in teaching and learning.

Module 3: Leading change for improvement and developing staff

The third and the final module of this program refers to the evaluation of everything the students have learned in the previous months, with special emphasis on the leadership theories and school situations. If leaders want to improve and upgrade their practice, they need to be prepared to critically analyze the knowledge they possess and their leadership practice, so they could provide the necessary support to teachers and improve the quality of teaching in their educational institution, and successfully apply the more general knowledge of leadership on the context of educational leadership. Any initiative for introducing changes must be part of an action plan, and the resulting changes must be closely monitored so as to lead to the desired outcomes. 

In addition, leaders will be able to plan professional development in their team more effectively, thus helping to improve the quality of both teaching and learning, and they will also know which leadership styles and activities are most adequate to use in the given situation.                

What’s next?

You want to continue your professional development in accordance with the highest global standards of Cambridge University? The Cambridge Teaching Center offers 3 unique programs. Learn more about Teaching & learning, Teaching with digital technologies, and Teaching bilingual learners programs.

Improve your knowledge and skills in one of the professionals courses and workshops available at the Cambridge Teaching Center. Learn more about the professional courses and workshops here.