The programme is designed to develop leaders with the capacity to operate successfully in an international leadership environment and lead educational change, particularly in the Asian context.
Practising and aspiring school leaders, including principals, middle leaders, teacher leaders, curriculum leaders and NGO managers, are encouraged to apply. Participants should also be highly motivated, ambitious, and willing to question and share expertise.
The postgraduate programme comprises 6 courses taught online, a residential School Improvement Institute and a School-based Inquiry Project.
Online Courses
EdUHK is collaborating with the International Baccalaureate to offer two postgraduate leadership certificates: IB Certificate in Leadership Practice and IB Advanced Certificate in Leadership Research. Participants in the IELC have the option of completing the two IB certificates concurrently to meet the degree requirements of the IELC.
The IB Certificate in Leadership Practice is designed for educators and administrators who want to improve their leadership capabilities or career aspirations in an IB context. Participants develop and refine their ability to take on leadership responsibilities and understand their role in guiding a school through IB authorisation and implementation. It is tailored for:
Participants in the IELC may earn the IB Certificate in Leadership Practice by completing the 4 online IELC courses. Those who aim to pursue this option should ensure that their course assessments demonstrate applicability to IB leadership issues and contexts. This may be done either by relating their coursework to the IB context in which they work, or by drawing upon additional resource materials provided in the “IB Hub” to examine issues pertaining to IB programme authorisation, implementation and contexts.
The IB Advanced Certificate in Leadership Research uses rigorous investigative work to give educators and administrators a more profound understanding of IB leadership responsibilities and capabilities. It includes research within the context of IB leadership as well as deep reflection on personal leadership practice. It is tailored for:
IELC participants who wish to earn the IB Advanced Certificate in Leadership Research may do so by completing all IELC coursework. Assessments should be related to matters pertaining to leading in IB contexts, this includes the School-based Inquiry Project, which asks participants to conduct a focused study of leading change.
The following timetable indicates the months in which courses begin. Each course runs for 8 weeks followed by a 4 week break.
|
Date |
Course Code |
Course Name |
|---|---|---|
|
2024 |
||
|
Jul 10 – Jul 12 |
EDA6048 |
School Improvement Institute II |
|
Jul 22 - Sep 13 |
EDA6048 |
Effective School Leadership |
|
Oct 14 - Dec 6 |
EDA6047 |
Organization Behavior |
|
2025 |
||
|
Jan 6 - Feb 28 |
EPA6102 |
International Perspectives on Education Reform |
|
Apr 7 - May 24 |
EDA6009 |
Leading Organization Change |
|
Jul 9 - Jul 11 |
EDA6037 |
School Improvement Institute I |
|
Jul 21 - Sep 12 |
EDA6090 |
Leading Professional Learning |
|
Oct 13 - Dec 5 |
EDA6005 |
Leading Learning Organizations |
|
2026 |
||
|
Jan 5 - Feb 27 |
EDA6048 |
Effective School Leadership |
|
Mar 30 - May 22 |
EDA6047 |
Organization Behavior |
EDA6012 School-based Inquiry Project: Leading School Improvement is offered each January, May and September.
School Improvement Institute (SII) (residential course) is offered in early July. Each SII will require some work to be completed before and after the residential.
EdUHK also collaborates with Cambridge Assessment International Education to offer IELC participants the opportunity to attain the Cambridge International Diploma in Educational Leadership.
Cambridge leadership qualifications are designed to help leaders develop their professional thinking and practice, and enhance their (1) knowledge, skills and understanding of effective leadership, (2) leadership practice and (3) school and its effectiveness.
They will be of interest to
* The requirements for the Cambridge qualifications are under review and subject to change.
The courses are delivered by distance education. The use of online technology enriches the learning experience and provides participants with the flexibility to integrate and manage their study and professional commitments. Online delivery also facilitates communication, work, and networking with supervisors, fellow participants, and international professional experts introduced in the programme.
The courses are taught by a team of internationally recognised scholars and experienced school leaders who possess a deep understanding of education issues in Asian and global education contexts.
For each course, detailed study materials, including narrated presentations, reading portfolios, and assessment tasks, will be provided via a dedicated online programme website. Online coursework is supported through communication with academic staff by email, discussion boards, and Zoom meetings.
As a participant, you will also have access to support offered by service providers within EdUHK, including the Library, the Department of Education Policy and Leadership (EPL), and The Joseph Lau Luen Hung Charitable Trust Asia Pacific Centre for Leadership and Change (APCLC).
The medium of instruction and assessment is English.
The tuition fee for the whole programme is HK$132,000 (HK$16,500 per course) in the academic year 2024/25. The tuition fee is provisional and subject to adjustment. Tuition fees paid are normally not refundable or transferable. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis.
The Executive Master of Arts in International Educational Leadership & Change was the perfect fit for my situation and career plans. The IELC programme was very real-world specific and applicable to both experienced and emerging school leaders working in an international setting. The programme professors were supportive and accessible, and most importantly, what I was studying linked directly to my daily work. An added bonus was that I was able to complete two IB leadership certificates during the programme. The EMA and IB certificates significantly strengthened my resume and knowledge base and helped secure my recent post in Tokyo, Japan.
The IELC program is not only for those that are beginning their journey into leadership but should also be considered by those that have been on the leadership path for a while. The program provides opportunities to authentically apply course material and research into everyday administrative experiences. The variety of educational experiences the course offers, tailored to the international school context makes this program valuable for leaders at any level within a school.
It's a wonderful destiny to join the IELC programme introduced by my colleague. When several online master's programmes were recommended to me, one of the reasons I chose the IELC was because it contained the content of International Baccalaureate, which is the leading international curriculum, although it has not been introduced by my school yet. Through one year of learning in the IELC, I love it so much. There are always practical and effective leadership strategies, which are beneficial to my work and also life. IELC leads me a different attitude and altitude to be a leader and a teacher.
It is too easy for us to get buried in our everyday work and life. Sometimes we may even forget what the purposes are of doing the things we do. The IELC program is just like a mentor who keeps pushing you to move forward and think about the bigger picture. It is challenging in terms of the effort and time I must devote to the courses. Still, it is also tremendously beneficial as it enriches my mind both academically and interpersonally. I get the opportunity to read and study cutting-edge theories from professors and exchange ideas with educators from various backgrounds. I strongly recommend the IELC program to anyone who wants to improve themselves.
I completed the IELC a few years ago and found it both engaging and challenging. It was great to connect with other leaders in the region to exchange ideas and approaches and to contextualise learning. The best part for me was the innovative approach to both the delivery of the course and the assignments, allowing us to step away from the usual essay writing to create assignments that were more meaningful and interactive based on our own settings. I would highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to take a deeper dive into Education Leadership, especially those with International experience. I made instant connections with the theories explored in this Masters and was able to see them 'in action' as I continued my learning journey.
The IELC has been fantastic throughout. The online programme is well designed with engaging lectures, and plenty of collaboration with lecturers and peers. I particularly enjoyed linking the learning in each course to my school context. The School Inquiry Project and the School-based Improvement Institute were great ways to apply learning and connect with other educators. I have made professional connections and I am excited to be a part of the alumni association.
