The Certificate in Leadership (ECE)

The Certificate in Leadership (ECE) comprises two courses of 30 credits each:

• DL301 – Critical Reflection of Leadership and Management
• DL302 – The Leadership and Management of People

Both courses are studied concurrently and are offered part-time over one year

The Diploma of Leadership (ECE)

The Diploma of Leadership (ECE) comprises four courses of 30 credits each

• DL301 – Critical Reflection of Leadership and Management
• DL302 – Leadership and Management of People
• DL303 – Strategies for Professional Leadership
• DL304 – Sociocultural Context of Leadership

The courses are offered part-time over two years with two courses being offered concurrently each year.

DL301 – Critical Reflection of Leadership and Management

A variety of leadership theories are introduced, ranging from the more traditional (leader/follower) models through to contemporary understandings of leadership practice occurring across a number of people within the same organisation.

These theories will be analysed from a general educational perspective and a specific ECE perspective. Course participants use reflective practice to strengthen or develop an individual leadership goal for the year. Course participants learn how to self-reflect on their individual goal as they participate in an online forum.

As the course participant views and contributes to professional forums of discussion regarding leadership practice in ECE. It will allow them to view their own practice from multiple perspectives. An Action Learning questioning approach (Marquardt, cited in Siberman, 2007) aims to assist a pro-active approach to online communication.

Course participants will gain an understanding of the difference between leadership, management and an ECE setting’s philosophy and practices, and how this impacts on positive outcomes for children. Reflective practice and critically reflective frameworks guide the learning.

DL302 – The Leadership and Management of People

The leadership role of the assistant supervisor/second in charge will be explored and analysed as to how ‘assistant’ leadership positions link to a variety of leadership theory and research. Through the development and implementation of workshops, participants will explore with others in their ECE setting the everyday ethical dilemmas that arise with children, parents/whanau and colleagues.

Leadership theory and research practices will be referred to address the needs of the learning community. The importance of an effective process that reviews the selection, employment, induction, mentoring, appraisal, professional development and performance management of new staff will be explored through the development of a manual that will be specific to the ECE setting.

DL303 – Strategies for Professional Leadership

This course aims to identify key skills and strategies which leaders can apply to inspire their team. Leaders are guided to research and analyse various methods of leadership. These methods can be applied within the ECE setting to change or develop further a culture of best practice to achieve quality outcomes for children and their communities.

Strategic planning is a key feature of the course. Various methods of undertaking strategic planning are investigated. Methods of motivating teams, complex problem solving, developing innovation, and leading change are studied.

The aim is not only to assist leaders to inspire their teams but to encourage leaders to practice what they learn during the course in such a way that the whole team is involved in the course outcomes.

DL304 – Sociocultural Context of Leadership

The aim of this course is to critically evaluate and reflect on leadership within a sociocultural context. Associated to this is the critical examination of the socio-historical and socio-political influences in Aotearoa/New Zealand. A further aspect within the course is the changes to the social and political landscape of ECE leadership within the country.

This course will allow opportunities for course participants to identify, reflect, and apply communities of practice approach within an ECE context. Course participants will, through the development and exploration of shared goals and interests, be engaged in joint activities during the course.

The course also takes a detailed look at the role of leadership from bicultural and multicultural perspectives that make up the ECE context of Aotearoa/New Zealand. An integral aspect of this course is a critical reflection of the key influences of the past, present and future.

This includes investigation of the key influences in ECE with particular reference to one’s own setting and professional community. Underpinning all of this is foundational knowledge of leadership theories and influences.

Courses DL301 and DL302 are required to be studied concurrently, and courses DL303 and DL304 are required to be studied concurrently.  DL301 and DL302 form the certificate programme, all four courses form the diploma programme.