Education MA, Leadership and Improvement of Educational Activities I, 7.5 credits
Please note that the literature can be changed/revised until:
• June 1 for a course that starts in the autumn semester
• November 15 for a course that starts in the spring semester
• April 1 for a course that starts in the summer
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Syllabus:
Pedagogik AV, Ledarskap och utveckling av pedagogiska verksamheter I, 7.5 hp
Education MA, Leadership and Improvement of Educational Activities I, 7.5 credits
General data
- Code:PE073A
- Subject/Main field:Education
- Cycle:Second cycle
- Credits:7.5
- Progressive specialization:A1N - Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
- Education area:Social sciences 100%
- Answerable department:Education, Psychology and Social Work
- Approved:2025-09-12
- Version valid from:2026-08-31
Aim
The course aims to develop the student’s understanding of leadership and organisational development. It also seeks to enhance the student's ability to address complex phenomena, questions, and situations through in-depth study and critical reflection on leadership and improvement in relation to educational contexts.
Course objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, the student is expected to demonstrate:
- In-depth understanding of the concepts of leadership and development.
- Ability to critically and verbally reflect on and problematise these concepts in relation to educational activities.
- Ability to identify and address the need for further knowledge in leadership and development of educational activities.
- Ability to communicate acquired knowledge both in written and oral form.
Content
The course addresses educational research and theories on leadership and organisational development. It includes empirical examples from studies on leadership and development within educational settings. The course includes the writing of a paper on leadership and school development. The paper should discuss, critically examine, and deepen the student's understanding of key scientific concepts in relation to a “case” drawn from the student’s own experience. The content of the paper should also be presented in the form of a potential future study.
Entry requirements
A completed degree of at least 180 credits including an independent project of 15 credits in Education or a corresponding main field of study, or a completed teacher education degree of at least 180 credits including an independent project of 15 credits. Additionally, proficiency in Swedish and English equivalent to general entry requirements for higher education in Sweden at first-cycle level is required.
Selection rules and procedures
The selection process is in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance and the local order of admission.
Teaching form
The teaching is mainly given online with a number of mandatory digital meetings.
Examination form
2001: Education MA, Leadership and Improvement of Educational Activities I - Oral and Written Assignment, 7.5 Credits
Grade scale: Three-grade scale
The intended learning outcomes are assessed through three mandatory assessment components:
- Compulsory literature seminars (Pass/Fail)
- Peer review of student papers (Pass/Fail)
- Individual paper on Leadership and School Development (Fail/Pass/Pass with Distinction)
To receive the grade Pass, the student must pass all components. To receive Pass with Distinction, the student must, in addition, obtain that grade on the individual paper.
Link to grading criteria: https://www.miun.se/gradingcriteria
Students with a decision from Mid Sweden University regarding educational support due to a documented disability may be offered an adapted examination form by the examiner.
Grading system
Three-grade scale
Other information
This course may not be included in a degree together with the course PE049A.
The course is offered in English by the Department of Education.
Course reading
Required literature
Author/Ed: Alvesson, A. Blom, M. Svenningsson, S.
Title: Reflexive leadership
Edition: Latest edition
Publisher: Sage
Author/Ed: Bush, T.
Title: Theories of Educational Leadership and Management
Edition: Latest edition
Publisher: Sage
Author/Ed: Kelly, S.
Title: Towards a negative ontology of leadership
Edition: 2014
Publisher/journal: Human relations, 67(8), 905–922.
Author/Ed: Larsson, G., Lundin, J., Zander, A.
Title: The Leadership Model -The art of Matching Individual and organisational Characteristice
Edition: Latest edition
Publisher: Studentlitteratur
Author/Ed: Lund, S.
Title: The geographic periphery as architecture for leadership practice with Swedish primary school principals: A peripatetic leading practice
Edition: 2025
Publisher/journal: International journal of leadership in education, 28(3), 533–552.
Author/Ed: Sahlin, S., Sjöstrand, M., Styf, M., & Lund, S
Title: Swedish principals’ adaptive leadership in unprecedented times: Learnings from the pandemic experiences
Edition: 2025
Publisher/journal: Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/17411432251339791
Additional articles will be added.