Course summary

The MA Educational Leadership and Change at Durham University prepares you for a professional career that relies on combined expertise in education, leadership & management, and data analysis. Our course is designed to engage with theory and evidence in leadership and management across sectors to inform improvements in various mechanisms, processes, and practices in education at all levels. Our two specialised modules - 'Effective Educational Leadership' and 'Leading Change in Education Organizations' cover a range of critical issues around leadership development, professional learning, and leadership for equity, system leadership, excellence, and innovation in education. Two more core modules 'Design and Methods in Education Research' and 'Postgraduate Dissertations' hone your skills in the research and data analysis aspects. The MA Educational Leadership and Change combines innovative teaching with exceptional support. You will have opportunities to engage with students from diverse backgrounds and countries, gaining a global perspective on education. To further enhance your experience, you will learn from world-class academics who are behind some of the leading research in the field, and experienced practitioners who are involved in educational policy-making. Upon successful completion of the course, you will have the ability to connect your professional experience with theory in the field and compare it with real-life instances. You will be equipped with the essential skills, knowledge, and behaviours essential to flourish as a well-rounded professional and an influential leader in education and other sectors. Course structure Full-time students normally study three core modules, one mini module, one optional module, and complete a dissertation over one year. Core modules: Effective Educational Leadership (30 credits) engages with global leadership trends and their impact on educational quality and outcomes. This module is designed to engage with theory and evidence on effective leadership in education and across sectors. It covers critical topics on leadership models, leadership development, and professional learning and networking. The module will support you with designing your leadership development plan and strategies, drawing on a range of evidence. Leading Change in Educational Organisations (30 credits) develops your critical understanding of the processes and practices of leading, managing, and evaluating change initiatives, with a particular focus of educational contexts. This is an increasingly important part of the leadership role as the scale and number of educational reforms continues to grow. Design and Methods in Education Research (20 credits): introduces key issues, terms, and ideas in education research. It teaches a range of key research skills including the evaluation of research techniques across different research contexts and the ability to conduct a high-quality study. You will learn to recognise the different purposes of education research; understand key terms and vocabulary in education research and develop a critical standpoint in relation to research in education. Postgraduate Dissertation (60 credits) is a substantial piece of research based on an educational issue within your chosen field of study. You will use an approved research strategy to design and carry out your research and report the outcomes. Examples of mini modules

• Secondary Data in Education Research

• Ethnographies of Education

• Measurement in Education Research

• Interviews

• Narrative Enquiry – Methodology and Methods

• Experiments in Education

• Systematic Reviews