Two inspectors from the Valencian Community took part last October in the course Strategic Leadership and Management for Principals, Vice Principals, and other School Policymakers, held in Dubrovnik (Croatia) within the framework of Erasmus+ KA1. This training, aimed at educational leaders from various European countries, focused on strengthening key competencies for effective, innovative school leadership oriented toward the well-being of educational communities.

Course Objectives

Among its main objectives were:

Develop effective conflict resolution strategies, as well as promote teamwork, collaboration, and teambuilding dynamics.

Enhance leadership soft skills, essential for preventing professional burnout and managing teams effectively.

Strengthen advanced communication competencies, crucial for building positive and transparent relationships with teachers, students, families, and other educational stakeholders.

Apply critical thinking and problem-solving techniques in decision-making within complex educational contexts.

Foster inspiring leadership capable of motivating teams and promoting a positive school culture, integrating institutional communication and public relations (PR) strategies to enhance the school’s image, reinforce its digital presence, and showcase its achievements.

Program and activities

The course combined training sessions, practical exercises, and experiential activities over six days:

• Sessions on positive leadership, aimed at creating a favorable classroom climate and managing teams based on trust and motivation.
• Workshops on stress management and sustainable leadership, covering relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and emotional self-regulation to handle the demands of educational leadership.
• Teambuilding activities and emotional intelligence development.
• Practical review and synthesis session through a collaborative digital treasure hunt designed to reinforce communication, creativity, and critical thinking.
• Final day of shared reflection, dedicated to consolidating learning, analyzing its application in professional practice, and assessing the course’s impact.