Leadership in Times of Change During the Pandemic

• In Event: Education Leadership in Times of Change

Abstract

The Corona crisis had an high impact on the organization of higher education from primary till secondary processes. Remote teaching and learning forced teachers to change practice very fast. Also schedules, administrative procedures and other facilitating processes had to be adjusted in short time to new and not foreseen circumstances. Educational leaders needed to adjust their role and lead in new ways. Our qualitative case study aimed at understanding the learning of educational leaders during the pandemic : “What are the most important lessons educational leaders learned about leading in times of crisis?” How did they view their role and what were the most important challenges they encountered? Ninety educational leaders (out of 178) in Dutch higher education answered open-ended questions (October – November 2020). Their answers elaborate on leadership roles, collaboration, communication, vision and ambition in relation to new ways of teaching and assessment. Results show that managers experienced the greatest challenge in facilitating collaboration and preventing teaching and learning to become an individual activity, to be ‘the glue’ that ties everything together and to keep teachers motivated. Their role balanced between coaching, setting high goals and leading by example. We will discuss implications for policy, research and practice.

Author

• Kristin Vanlommel, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht