Principals’ experience of a master’s program in school management and leadership

• Main Authors: Baldursdóttir, Anna Þóra, Sigurðardóttir, Sigríður Margrét
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Icelandic
• Published: Menntavísindasvið Háskóla Íslands 2016
• Subjects: Master’s program;principal;principalship;leadership;professional development; Meistaranám;skólastjóri;skólastjórnun;forysta;starfsþróun; Akureyri; Iceland; University of Akureyri
• Online Access: https://ojs.hi.is/netla/article/view/2382

This paper presents the findings from research aiming at investigating the attitudesand experience of pre- and compulsory school principals of a master’s program inschool management and leadership at the University of Akureyri, and at exploring theimpact they felt the program had on them and their work.The research question was: What was the principals’ attitudes and experience of theprogram and how they thought it influenced their professional development and capacityas principals?Research has demonstrated that the leadership and leadership behaviour of principalsis crucial for sustained school improvement and students’ achievement. Togetherwith an emphasis on school-based management, these findings have increased theresponsibilities of principals and amplified the pressure on them. The findings havealso led to an increased emphasis on principal preparation programs, both in-serviceand for prospective principals, followed by increased research on their success.In Iceland, the first master´s program in educational management and leadership wasestablished in 1997 at the Iceland University of Education. Since 2000 a similar programhas been offered by The University of Akureyri. Even though a substantial num ber of participants have graduated from both these programs, little research exists ontheir impact and usefulness.Data for the study reported in this paper was gathered through semi-structured individualinterviews and document analysis of their theses. The interviews were conductedwith 14 principals in pre- and compulsory schools, who had completed themaster’s program in school management and leadership at The University of Akureyri.During their studies, the participants were either in-post principals, or became principalsduring or shortly after their completion of the program. The interviews wereconducted in September̶ October 2014 and lasted 60–70 minutes each.The aim of the interviews was to search for key concepts such as self-confidence,self-awareness, vision, leadership and educational change. The main ...