Educational Leadership & Management

Maynooth University Department of Education offers an exciting, innovative and flexible Future Leaders Gateway Programme. It is designed for teachers at all levels who are seeking or who are already in leadership roles, as well as for those who are seeking to develop leadership skills in their educational settings. The programme is designed specifically to build your knowledge, competences and expertise as you undertake your education leadership journey.

The Future Leaders Gateway Programme offers a combination of practical skills and theoretical foundations to support preparation for leadership and management positions at all levels. It is designed and delivered by experienced leaders, educators and academics from a variety of professional education roles and has input from national and international academic/practitioner experts in the areas of educational leadership and management.

What makes it unique?

Candidates have 3 options within the Future Leaders Gateway Programme:

Master in Educational Leadership & Management (MAELM)
Master's programme (Level 9, 90 ECTS) focusing on educational leadership and management.

Year 1 incorporates the PGDELM, available in a range of regional venues

Year 2 is available in Maynooth University

Full Day Seminars (Sept & March – Maynooth University), Four half-day workshops (Sept-Dec) in Maynooth University, interactive on-line lectures and one-to-one meetings with a research supervisor

The programme is delivered via a blended-learning approach, with workshops, seminars and on-line engagement

Master in Educational Leadership & Management (Top Up)
This "Top-Up" Masters programme is only available to students who are graduates of the PGDELM, subject to availability of places from September 2021. Graduates of the PGDELM have a four-year window from the time of graduating in which to undertake this programme.

Master's programme (Level 9, 30 ECTS) focusing on educational leadership and management.

Available in Maynooth University

Two full-day Seminars (Sept & March in Maynooth University)
Four half-day workshops (Sept-Dec) in Maynooth University, interactive on-line lectures and one-to-one meetings with a research supervisor

Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership & Management (PGDELM)

Postgraduate Diploma (Level 9, 60 ECTS) focusing on educational leadership (the existing Future Leaders diploma).

Offered in a range of regional venues and Maynooth University

Delivered with a blended-learning approach - lectures, workshops, seminars and access to special CPD events

What will you gain from the programme?
A deep understanding of leadership and management in the field of education and insight into your preferred leadership style

Development of your communication, persuasive and influencing skills to help you inspire people

Self-awareness around your strengths and areas for development.

Knowledge around how to introduce, mediate and successfully manage well-being, anti-bullying and other policies within the school setting

A comprehensive understanding of the legal and policy context relating to management and leadership in educational settings

Creative strategies to help you to deliver innovative solutions for your workplace

Coaching and mentoring skills to optimise your team's potential

A repertoire of pedagogical and assessment approaches that have been designed to build your competences

This programme is a 21-month part-time programme delivered through a blended learning model that involves significant face-to-face engagement, with a strong emphasis on peer learning.

The programme is delivered via lectures, seminars and tutorials that help you develop and deepen your knowledge and understanding of this field. The programme is delivered over two years.

What modules will you take?

Year 1 Modules (PGDELM & MAELM) include:

Leading and Managing Educational Innovation
Leadership for Enhancing Cultures of Communication
Participative Research as Leadership Practice
The Person and The Professional: Who am I as a Leader?
Legal Contexts, Policy and Practice
Coaching and Mentoring in and as Leadership Practice

Year 2 Modules (MAELM & T-MAELM) include:
Research Methods
Capstone (practice-based) Research Project

There are three entry requirements for the programme:

(1) A minimum of 3 years full time, qualified teaching experience.

(2) A recognised level 8 degree

(3) A teaching qualification or equivalent. (In the absence of the candidate having a teaching qualification, proof of current full registration with the Teaching Council showing the year of qualification may be considered).

Minimum English language requirements: please visit Maynooth University International Office website for information about English language tests accepted and required scores. The requirements specified are applicable for both EU and non-EU applicants.

National University of Ireland Maynooth's TOEFL code is 8850.

21 months part-time

The programme is designed specifically for teachers/educators who are seeking, or already in, middle and/or senior school leadership roles, as well as for teachers who are seeking to develop their leadership skills in schools and classrooms.

Applications are welcome from teachers and/or school leaders who are on career break, sabbatical and/or job-sharing.