This open access book discusses challenges in school improvement research and different methodological approaches that have the potential to foster school improvement research. Research on school improvement and accountability analysis places high demands on a study’s design and method. The potential of combining the depth of case studies with the breath of quantitative measures and analyses …
eadership can be viewed from more than one perspective. Leadership is primarily a concept that denotes an individual or a group of individuals whose authority has been accepted by others. It is also a process in which the set goals, plans and tasks are realised through exerting influence on one’s followers and their behaviour. It may be viewed as a relation between two persons or as a…
At the core of institutional theories, ‘values’ is a central term and figures in most definitions; however it remains understudied and under-explored. The editors of this open access book identify a resurgence of interest in the values-construct which underpins discussions of identity, ‘ethos’ and the purpose/nature of public and civic welfare provision. Considering the importance of va…
This open access book outlines key terms of China’s school leadership in Chinese political and legal, financial, administrative, and cultural contexts. It reveals and interprets the real meaning of these practical terms based on existing laws, government documents, school policy texts as well as the latest empirical findings from school leaders and teachers’ surveys and interviews in China.…
This open access book brings together research on the planning, design, governance and management of schools as community hubs—places that support the development of better-connected, more highly integrated, and more resilient communities with education at the centre. It explores opportunities and difficulties associated with bringing schools and communities closer together, with a focus on t…
This open access book inspires young entrepreneurs to embark on the journey toward the future of work through actionable entrepreneurship, especially focusing on South Africa. Its insights and tools extend beyond borders, suiting the Global South and emerging markets. Using systemic action learning, the author guides readers in developing both internal and external aspects of youth entrepren…
Folgt man den aktuellen UNO-Berichten, steht die Welt an einem kritischen Scheidepunkt, der eine Transformation auf verschiedenen Ebenen verlangt. Dieses Open Access-Fachbuch zeigt in 13 Kapiteln im Sinne von aktuellen Werkstattberichten auf, wie und unter welchen Bedingungen Wandel und Transformation stattfinden, wie sie unterstützt und skaliert werden können. Einige der Transformationsproje…
This book explores how the notion of the responsible university manifests itself at various levels within Nordic higher education. As the impetus of the knowledge society has catapulted the higher education sector to the forefront of policy agendas, universities and other types of higher education institutions face increasing scrutiny, assessment and accountability. This book examines this phen…
This Open Access book provides a comprehensive analysis of political reforms in Japan since the 1990s, emphasizing the role of ideas in shaping their goals and outcomes. For more than fifteen years following the collapse of Japan’s economic bubble, politicians, business people and academics tackled a range of institutional reforms. The sweeping changes they enacted—covering almost…
We acknowledge with gratitude the funding received from the Academy of Finland DEVELOP-programme (2018–2022) for the research project Theory and practice of learning to be a citizen: Experiences from Tanzania and Uganda (decision numbers 316098 and 316100) and from the Eudaimonia Institute of the University of Oulu for the research project Citizenship in Change: Constructing a Novel Theo…