Conceptualizing educational leadership in an academic development program

ABSTRACT

Promoting the development of educational leadership in higher education is essential for strengthening the quality of teaching and learning. Additional research is needed to conceptualize educational leadership, especially within informal roles. We analysed how faculty members in an academic development program conceptualized educational leadership. Five key characteristics emerged that inform the development of educational leadership capacity in postsecondary contexts: affective qualities, mentoring and empowering, action-orientation, teaching excellence, and research and scholarship. Three characteristics of academic programs aimed at developing educational leadership were also identified: funding and resources to implement a change initiative, building interdisciplinary communities, and embracing identity.

KEYWORDS:

• Educational leadership
• distributed leadership
• educational development
• academic development
• higher education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jacqueline Fields

Jacqueline Fields is a Sessional Instructor and PhD candidate in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary.

Natasha Ann Kenny

Natasha Ann Kenny is the Director of the Educational Development Unit in the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning at the University of Calgary.

Robin Alison Mueller

Robin Alison Mueller is an Educational Development Consultant at the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning, University of Calgary.