Educational Leadership in the Age of Digital Transformation

Abstract

Educational technology has completely transformed the field of education and digital transformation is at the heart of the future of learning institutions. As a result, the idea of educational leadership has evolved and educational leaders need to give up some of their more traditional technical administrative and managerial responsibilities, and adopt a newer approach to leadership based on innovation, vision and technology. The aim of the above paper is to discuss educational leadership in the age of educational digital transformation with a specific focus on those competences, strategies and styles of leadership that need to be more prominent in leading through the transition. The paper explores digital transformation with a focus on the governance of educational institutions, design of curriculum, pedagogical practices, assessment, and engagement with stakeholders across educational contexts, with particular emphasis placed on digital literacy and resilience of educational leaders, teachers and learners, and educators, to support educational institution sustainability and growth with competitive advantage. Significant issues in the complexities of the educational leadership context this research investigates is managing the complexities and issues of equitable access to digital technologies and responsible use, privacy and safety of data, and ultimately, resistance to change. All factors investigated so as to elicit the complexities and issues with implementing institutional technology reform in a large and complex educational context. Drawing upon recent leadership frameworks, international case studies, and applied research, this paper argues for the need for educational leaders to adopt collaborative and participatory styles of leadership to enable innovation, inclusion, and accountability. The evidence reveals that effective digital leadership is not solely about the adoption of new technologies; it is about creating a culture of continuous improvement, sharing power with stakeholders, and the alignment of the missions of educational institutions with the expectations of a digital society. The research indicates that the ability of educational leaders to navigate the established values of education and tenets of educational leadership with the emerging values and imperatives of digital education and technology critical to the capacity for educational change and transformation in the digital age, ensuring that educational institutions thrive and are relevant, resilient and future ready in an unordered, uncertain and ever changing global society.