The Professionalization of Educational Leaders through Postgraduate Study and Professional Development Opportunities in New Zealand Tertiary Education Institutions

Abstract

This paper reports a review of the professionalization services in educational leadership available from New Zealand's tertiary institutions at a time of accelerating retirements and turnover. Case studies of current programs identified six urgent policy issues: the need for research-based provisions in early childhood education (ECE); potential conflicts of interest for university faculties contracted to deliver government professional development (PD), consultancy, and support services; the preparatory needs of first-time team and executive leaders in schools and centre leaders in ECE; blending optional assessment of PD activities with postgraduate study programs; national investment needed to triple participation in the professionalization of educational leaders, and removing conditions antithetical to the systematic professionalization of leadership while creating incentive regimes that will sustain leadership capacity building. Five conclusions appear warranted. Each institution should provide effective professorial leadership to their research, teaching, and advisory teams in educational leadership or withdraw from the field. Market leaders in ECE might form a consortium with national stakeholders to articulate a research-based and career-related leadership development framework. The latent demand for professionalization exceeds supply by a factor of about three requiring Ministerial reform of incentives and national investment in educational leadership. Educational leaders in New Zealand are poorly educated in leadership compared to their international counterparts and need fresh incentives to become an All Master's profession. Finally, New Zealand's professional associations should play a much more significant role in the professionalization of leaders by setting aside past differentiation and competitive strategies, recognizing all colleagues in designated leadership roles, combining into one national peak body, and engaging in the governance of the professionalization services provided by tertiary education institutions.

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