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Latest News: 2024

Doctor of Philosophy in Education: H.G. Van Der Westhuizen

Dr Van der Westhuizen

 

Prof Jan Heystek Mahikeng Campus Visit (5 April 2024):

mahikeng campus visit          2

 

Post Doctoral Fellowship Advertisement:

  • Click here to apply (Closing Date: 06 March 2024)

 

Prof D De Klerk - Conference Attendance: 

  • For EASA 2024: CONFERENCE REPORT Click here

  • For SEACE 2024: CONFERENCE REPORT Click here

 

Upcoming Aosis Book - End of 2024:

Human capital formation trends in education governance, leadership and management for improved quality education delivery in South African public schools.

It is widely held that education governance, leadership and management practices enacted in schools determines the attaining of national quality educational outcomes. Quality education is believed to determine the human capital formation of a nation through its contribution to the knowledge, skills and attribute acquired and possessed by people of a nation which are critical for addressing the development needs of their society. It is crucial to understand human capital formation trends in education governance, leadership and management since these have influence on quality education and the resultant development of the society.  Literature reveals that continued persistent of weak educational governance, leadership and management practices as a major challenge impeding the attainment quality education in schools. However, education research that examines human capital formation trends in educational governance, leadership and management for improved quality education is still limited if at all in existence in the South African context. Using the human capital lenses the book examines the influence educational governance, leadership and management capabilities on quality education.  development. Findings from the book may highlight the importance of human capital formation in education governance, leadership and management capabilities for improved delivery of quality education in South African schools.

Editors:

Prof M. Matashu

Prof S. Maile

Prof C.P. van der Vyver

Historical News: 2017 - 2023

EDU-LEAD international seminar on teacher leadership

EDULEAD organised and hosted an international online seminar on Wednesday, 19 May 2021. The theme of the seminar was: Conceptualization of teacher leadership in the international arena: Perspectives from different cultural contexts. Professor Charlie Webber form Canada, extra-ordinary professor in EDULEAD acted as host for the seminar. The speakers who did presentations included Prof Cecilia Fierro Evans from Mexico, Dr Nicholas Wachira from Tanzania, Prof Clelia Pineda Báez from Colombia and Prof CP van der Vyver form NWU. All the presenters are members of the larger International study of teacher leadership, with Professor Webber as project leader. The seminar was attended by more than 70 participants from various countries across the world, including participants from Australia, Hong Kong, Kenia, Namibia, Spain, UK, USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe.


A common feature in all the different presentations was that teacher leadership is shaped and influenced by the specific cultural context of the country. Teacher leaders are further seen as important agents of change in schools that do play an important role in school effectiveness as well as the restoration of social justice. During the discussion time many of the attendees joined in. The challenge with organising such an international online event is accommodating attendees across different time zones. The feedback from the attendees after the seminar was very positive.

 

 

The Advanced Diploma (School Leadership and Management)

North West University was selected by SIOC Community Development Trust as the preferred provider for presenting the Advanced Diploma in Education (School Leadership and Management) to school leaders in the Northern Cape. The AdvDip (SLM) is a national school leadership development programme and is planned as a professional and entry-level qualification for principals as envisaged in the South African Standard for Principalship (SASP).


The program is new approach that has not yet been presented by the NWU, Faculty of Education. This blended-learning approach programme will last for two years (2021 and 2022).
The professional qualification is aimed at empowering school leaders to effectively transform their schools effectively and strategically through incorporating technology and research.


The programme started in the beginning of 2021 and all 80 students where registered at the NWU and started with the Advanced Diploma: School leadership and management program where the NWU decided to take education to the students. The first induction session took place on 28 April until 30 April 2021 in Kathu, where students was provided with laptops, monthly data and an introduction session with the lecturers to get them started. A research project will be conducted simultaneously to determine the role of the program and delivery mode on the staff development and improvement on schools.

 

AOSIS Book

The research unit Edu-Lead is proud to announce the publication of the second AOSIS book: Education Leadership: Scoping, perspectives and future trajectory.

The book consists of eleven chapters edited by Prof Leentjie van Jaarsveld, Prof Charl Wolhuter and Prof CP van der Vyver. 

This volume displays the scope and range of the emerging scholarly field of education leadership by means of chapters zooming in on various areas of research in the field. This book takes as the point of departure and as a base reference point a scoping exercise on literature regarding the teaching of education leadership. The ensuing chapters, focusing on various areas in the field of education leadership scholarship, are ordered in the following categories: chapters dealing with teacher leadership, chapters dealing with school leadership and chapters dealing with mid-level leadership. The section on teacher leadership contains a chapter on collective teacher efficacy in high-performing high schools in South Africa. The section on school leadership contains four chapters dealing with (1) leadership and leadership challenges faced by school principals of

special schools, (2) entrepreneurial leadership as a key leadership style in uncertain times, (3) perceptions of school staff and school governing bodies regarding the use and maintenance of ageing school facilities in Gauteng and (4) continuous professional development of teachers in Namibia. The section on mid-level leadership has three chapters. The topics of these chapters are challenges and expectations regarding role conflict and role ambiguity in mid-level management in primary schools, the instructional leader’s role of heads of departments (HoDs) at parallel medium primary schools and views from HoDs, principals and department officials on

enabling HoDs for their curriculum leadership roles. These chapters employ a variety of research methods. Some chapters are position papers and conceptual chapters, while others are based on empirical research. Chapters of this book explicate and display leadership perspectives on an assortment of critical issues besetting education systems and facing schools, and thus they draw attention to some aspects of the scholarly field of education leadership that are critical in advancing the field. The research reported on in each of the chapters does not only give clear indications as to how and where to improve practice, but it also opens vistas for new and future research, suggesting to scholars in the field promising ways to take the field forward with research critical to the continual advance and relevance of the field.

Authors:

Proff Charl Wolhuter, Joe Mosoge, Leentjie van Jaarsveld, Lloyd Conley, and CP van der Vyver, Drr Branwen Challens, Jan Khumalo, Velapi Nhlapo, TT Tapala and Louw de Beer, Mr Johannes Kayumbu, and Me Sanet Myburg,

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The research unit Edu-Lead is proud to announce the publication of the book: Leadership Approaches to Negotiate Challenges in a Changing Education Landscape

The book consists of ten chapters edited by Prof Leentjie van Jaarsveld, Prof Kobus Mentz and Prof Charl Wolhuter.  

The book demonstrates that a particular problem of both the scholarly and the public discourse on education in South Africa is an overtone of defeatism or resignation, blaming all ills in the education system and educational institutions on historical legacies and/or contextual factors (such as socio-economic deprivation in the catchment areas of schools) or poor resources and infrastructure. This collected work was inspired by a recently published spate of articles on top-performing schools (including top-performing schools in rural areas/townships), in which it was demonstrated that good leadership can overcome such contextual and other challenges. The book discusses the issue of leadership in South African schools from a number of perspectives, thus contributing to the development of the scholarly discourse on Educational Leadership in South Africa (Prof Charl Wolhuter, 2020).

Authors:
Dr Arrie van Wyk, Dr Branwen Challens, Prof Charl Wolhuter, Prof CP van der Vyver, Dr Deon Vos, Dr Jan Khumalo, Prof Kobus Mentz and Dr TT Tapala

Me Annadene Malan was co-author with Prof CP Van der Vyver. She is currently a teacher.

Aosis Book Cover
 

 

The EDU-LEAD Read

 

 

 

Research

The Advanced Diploma (AD) (School Leadership and Management)

North West University was selected by SIOC Community Development Trust as the preferred provider for presenting the Advanced Diploma in Education (School Leadership and Management) to school leaders in the Northern Cape in the Kuruman and Katho area. The AD (SLM) is a national school leadership development programme and is planned as a professional and entry-level qualification as well as further professional development for principals as envisaged in the South African Standard for Principalship (SASP).

The program started with the first cohort in 2021 as a blended-learning approach programme will last for two years (2021 and 2022). The first induction session took place on 28 April until 30 April 2021 in Kathu, where students was provided with laptops, monthly data, and an introduction session with the lecturers to get them started. A research project will be conducted simultaneously to determine the role of the program and delivery mode on the staff development and improvement on schools.

We have the third cohort in 2023.

The professional qualification is aimed at empowering school leaders to effectively transform their schools effectively and strategically through incorporating technology and research.

The programme does not only include the teaching of the content, but the staff members are also involved in research about the programme. The research attempt to determine the learning preferences of the students as well as their ability, based on the learning in the programme, to improve certain aspects in the school. It is therefore a very hands-on programme. The research included a questionnaire which is completed by the participants at the beginning of the two-year programme and is followed by interviews at the end of the two-year. This provides the researchers with sufficient data about the potential success of the programme which can also assist to improve the kind and quality of teaching and learning. The students also receive feedback on what they have achieved which can also assist them with sustainable improvement at the schools. This research programme per cohort is continuing and will be conducted with the third cohort in 2023.

Two universities namely University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University has joined the research project since they have also started to teach the advanced diploma. This is a unique possibility to have good comparative data since each of the universities have a different approach regarding the support to the students and therefore the outcome and experience of the students will be a rich ground of research.

For more information you are welcome to contact Prof Heystek.

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Publications

Postdoctoral Fellows

Dr S Mudadigwa

Dr Sipiwe Mudadigwa is a Post Doctoral Fellow at Northwest University in the Faculty of Education Research niche-Edulead. She completed her PhD in 2021 (University of the Witwatersrand). M Ed and B Ed (Zimbabwe Open University), Dip Ed (Sciences) Mutare Teachers’ College (Zimbabwe). Diploma in Biblical Studies and Christian Leadership (Africa Multination for Christ College-AMFCC- South Africa).

Dr Mudadigwa has been teaching for 25 years with Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and Technical Sciences as major subjects and taught Mathematics, EMS, Life Orientation and Technology before joining Northwest University.

Dr Mudadigwa has been involved in the following activities which contribute to the academic community:

  • Part-time lecturer (AMFCC Evening)
  • Tutoring at Wits University – Educational Leadership Management and Policy Studies while doing PhD studies
  • As a postdoctoral fellow, she assisted in lecturing at Northwest University EDCC 423 Module (Educational Systems) Final year B Ed students and EDCC 413 module- Educational Leadership and Management.
  • Supervision of Honors Students Projects; Internal moderator (ERTP 671 Module)
  • Currently supervising Honours students and Co-supervising M Ed Student

Dr Mudadigwa has a strong passion for the area of research, and she has obtained distinctions in her academic journey in research:

  • She presented a paper at the SAERA conference in 2019.
  • She has attended online international conferences on various topics.
  • She participated in the research Bonanza hosted by Wits University, where PhD students presented sections of their research.
  • As a postdoctoral fellow, she was First Runner-Up in the Postdoctoral competition hosted by Northwest University.
  • She has published articles on Ethical leadership in schools.
  • She has skills in virtual presentations and online teaching.

Dr Mudadigwa has a passion for the academic and self-development of the youth and women.

Dr Mudadigwa’s focus areas are Educational Leadership and Management, Policy Studies, Teachers' professional development and Curriculum Development.

 

Dr OB Sasere

Oluwasola B. Sasere is a post-doctoral fellow at Edu-lead Research Nice, Faculty of Education, North West University, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Education Management and Leadership with a profound interest in School Leaders' Emotional Capacity Development, Teacher Professional Development, School Leadership, Micro Politics in Schools, School Effectiveness and School Violence. 

In his current role as a post-doctoral fellow at North-West University, Sasere presents a module titled Teaching Methodology at PGCE level. In his current role as a post-doctoral fellow at North West University he embarks on the following projects: 

  • Unveiling the unexplored: Emotional Intelligence as a Human Capital Component in school Leadership.
  • Exploring Emotional Capital of School Principals in Navigating Micro-Politics within a Distributed Leadership Structure in South African Schools. 

Sasere's academic journey includes experiences as a Research Assistant and multiple roles as an ad-hoc Lecturer during his Master's and PhD programmes. Sasere was involved as a research assistant in projects addressing violence in rural schools in South Africa during his PhD programme. He has presented and marked modules such as Life Orientation, General Pedagogy, Comparative Education, Accounting Teaching, Teaching and Learning in an Education Context, Entrepreneurship and more.

Having a strong commitment to academic research, Sasere is an active member of the South African Research Association (SAERA). Sasere has proven abilities in research, supervision, teaching and marking academic modules and courses. He has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented papers at national and international conferences. Sasere serves as a reviewer for academic journals. In addition to his academic achievements, Sasere actively contributes to the academic community. He is currently co-supervising master's students. Sasere's diverse skills set includes research, writing, teaching, leadership, collaboration and presentation skills. He is proficient in various computer applications, including Microsoft Office Suites, as well as statistical tools like SPSS and Atlas Ti. 

Dr Sasere’s focus areas are Teacher Professional Development, Leadership Emotional Intelligence and School Leadership

 

Dr MT Shula

Dr Shula is currently working on three papers focusing on principals’ collaborative leadership and school performance in disadvantaged context, servant leadership and school performance in the rural context and project on Principals’ learning and professional development. Furthermore, there are two manuscript that returned from the reviewers for revisions and I’m also trying to improve them. At the moment I’m also teaching Honours degree students “educational management and organisations” in Vaanderbijil Campus where lots of preparatory works are to be done.

Dr Shula is a third and final year Post Doctoral Fellow at Northwest University in the Faculty of Education Research niche-Edulead. He completed his PhD in 2019 from University of South Africa -UNISA and M Ed from St Anguine College of South in Education leadership and management  and Honours in education from St Mark’s Catholic University in Lima-Peru.

Dr Shula comes from a long background of Education field right from teaching and leading as a principal in faith-based school up to Coordinator for Rural Education Access Program (REAP) in the Eastern Cape Province and most recently marker at TEE College.  

   Dr Shula has been involved in the following activities which contribute to the academic community:

  • Part-time lecturer
  • Critical reader of the master’s and PhD Proposals
  • As a postdoctoral fellow,
  • Since 2021 he supervised 18 Honors Students Projects and currently co-supervising a master’s student
  • Presented two papers at EASA conference in 2023 and 2024.

Dr Shula has published the following articles: 

  • Leadership practices in faith-based schools by SAJE
  • Human relationship practices through servant leadership lens `by Africa Education Review
  • Servant leadership and teacher motivation in rural schools by Perspectives in Education
  • Leadership and context at press with SAJE
  • Leadership and accountability
  • Servant leadership in disadvantaged contexts
  • Dr shula has also participated in book chapter which is in the process.

Dr Shula’s focus areas are Educational Leadership and quality education in the rural schools’ context

 

 

 

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