A focus on students’ and teachers’ learning through strategic human resource management

ABSTRACT

The importance of strategic planning and human resource management (SHRM) for school effectiveness and improvement has been stressed. Yet, research shows that both are challenging aspects of school management. This qualitative study explores (a) the role of strategic planning in SHRM and (b) the link between SHRM and the factors that stimulate teachers’ professional learning. Based on 194 semistructured interviews with school leaders and team members, a comparative analysis between excellent and moderate strategic schools was conducted. The results reveal that excellent strategic schools distinguish themselves through strategic planning that focuses on core aspects of students’ learning and a working environment that is characterized by a highly motivated teacher team and various chances for teachers to learn from each other. The study provides an insight into how a “learning-focused” working environment can be enhanced by enacting a set of human resource practices.

KEYWORDS:

• Strategic human resource management
• strategic planning
• professional learning

Ethics declarations

According to the General Ethical Protocol (16/03/2022) of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Studies (Ghent University), a specific approval of the ethics committee is not required for this study, as we followed all the rules of the General Ethical Protocol. According to the rules of the General Ethical Protocol, an active informed consent was asked of all participants in our study. This informed consent consisted of a confirmation from all participants that they received and understood all of the necessary information regarding the research and voluntarily agreed to participate.

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by The Research Centre “Educational research” (Steunpunt Onderwijsonderzoek [SONO]) and was funded by the Flemish Government.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Melissa Tuytens

Melissa Tuytens, PhD, is an assistant professor at the Department of Educational Studies, Ghent University (Belgium). Her research interests are situated in the field of human resource management within schools, school leadership, and school policy in general. Currently, she focuses on the integration of human resource management and strategic school policy in primary and secondary education and on the opportunities of teacher collaboration for professional development.

Eva Vekeman

Eva Vekeman, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Educational Studies, Ghent University (Belgium). Her research interests are situated in the field of human resource management for new and experienced teachers in primary and secondary education, the role of school principals in implementing HR practices, and its effects on teachers’ outcomes. Currently, she works on a research project which aims to evaluate professional development initiatives for school leaders.

Geert Devos

Geert Devos, PhD, is a full professor in the field of educational administration at the Department of Educational Studies, Ghent University (Belgium). He leads the Bellon research center for school leadership and educational policy. His current research areas include educational leadership, school improvement, and educational policy.