MA Educational Leadership in Practice (ELiP) Core Team (School of Environment, Education & Development), for ‘Educational leadership’, and ‘Flexible learning and digital delivery’

Team Leader: Paul Armstrong. Stephen Rayner, Steven Courtney, Bobbie Dutton, Laura Goodfellow, Louisa Dawes, Craig Skerritt, Alex McTaggart, Drew Whitworth, Pam Giblin, Omar Ali and Emma Moores

The MA Educational Leadership in Practice (ELiP) Core Team has been recognised for their innovations in flexible learning practices and effective use of digital platforms which have significantly enhanced the educational experiences of students who would not otherwise have been able to study at The University of Manchester. Since its inception in 2020, the MA ELIP programme has provided Masters-level study opportunities to nearly 200 students, catering to the needs of working professionals from over 20 different countries. These students participate in part-time study through an innovative blended-learning model, attending conferences at their nearest international centre and engaging in online learning and assessment activities. The programme's reach extends to strategic and collaborative relationships with international centres in Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, and has influenced teaching and learning approaches at the faculty level. ELIP's unique appeal lies in its recruitment of students from underrepresented regions like Africa, South America, Russia, and other Asian countries, as well as practitioners from various educational phases and institutions, including kindergarten, higher education, and adult learning sectors. Though ELIP is an academic programme, students value it for its positive impact on their careers and CVs, and the University of Manchester's global reputation adds to its competitive advantage. Student feedback highlights the profound influence of the programme on their thinking and practice as educational leaders, as they tackle challenges related to equality, diversity, and social responsibility, while also gaining insights into research ethics and integrity. Graduating its first cohort in July 2022, ELIP's impact continues to grow as student numbers increase with each intake across different international centres.