Using Cross-National Education Study Tours to Enhance Global Competencies: Re-framing Leadership Frameworks

• In Event: 14.017 - International and Global Perspectives on Principal Practice

Abstract

Education study tours have been used for many decades as a tool to improve teacher pedagogy, school leadership and district-wide management. This theoretical paper presentation will outline the need for study tours to include the development of global competencies for future education leaders. Using a recent study tour as its guide, this paper presentation builds onto a body of existing school leadership research that adds elements of global competence to responsible leadership (Miller & Potter, 2014; Pless et al, 2011; Leithwood et al, 2008). The presentation will also provide a brief review of existing education study tours, and proposes a new paradigm for education study tours that includes culturally diverse learning spaces that at first glance may appear to lack high academic achievement, but at further examination are rich in global competencies. The paper concludes with recommendations on how this contemporary approach to leadership development may be replicated as a model good practice.

Authors

• Veronica Holly, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Phillip A Smith, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Alasdair Macdonald

• Andrew Millin, University of Delaware