School Leadership - Postgraduate Diploma Programme content
Key information
Key information
- Complete part-time over 18 months
- Designed for aspiring school leaders. All modules and course activities will be scheduled during out-of-school hours i.e. evenings & weekends.
- Time each week should be allocated for engaging with module content and class interaction as well as independent study.
- Modules taught during autumn and spring semesters
- You will attend an in-person induction day at University of Limerick before starting Year One of the programme.
Blended delivery
- Online Content: Released weekly each semester, to be completed at your own pace. It includes readings, short videos, podcasts, and other media related to that week’s topic.
- Tutorials: Each module includes 12 tutorials—approximately 50% are in person, and 50% are delivered online.
- Sraith Gaeilge: This strand is delivered online.
- Webinars: Each semester includes a leadership webinar from an educational leadership expert
In-Person teaching will take place at the following Education centres*;
During your application you will be asked to identify your top two preferences. Once allocated to a centre, changes cannot be made after selection
- Sraith Ghaeilge Online
- Athlone Education Support Centre
- Cork Education Support Centre
- West Cork
- Dublin North (TU Dublin Blanchardstown)
- Dublin South (Blackrock Education Centre)
- Laois Education Support Centre
- Tralee Education Support Centre
- University of Galway (Programme Partner)
- University College Dublin (Programme Partner)
- Limerick Education Centre
- Online (restrictions apply)
*Centre locations may be subject to change
Fully online options are available, but specific criteria apply. See entry requirements.
You will learn through a blend of
- Lectures, workshops, and learning activities
- Reflective practice and guided research
- Group and tutor discussions
Your lecturers and leaders
- Nicolaas Blom as Course Director, Associate Professor, School of Education, University of Limerick
- Niamh Hickey Co-course Director, Assistant Professor in Education with Mentoring, University of Limerick
- Art O Neachtain Professor of Education, University of Galway
- Paul Conway Professor of Teacher Education and Head of School of Education, University of Limerick
- Manuela Heinz Lecturer in Education, University of Galway
- Mary Cunneen Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership, School of Education, University College Dublin
- Patricia Mannix-McNamara, Professor in Education, School of Education, University of Limerick
Programme contents - Year 1
Core modules
- Leading Learning and Teaching in the Irish Context (EN5211) focuses on preferred perspectives on learning vis-à-vis schooling in the 21st century.
- Professional Growth and Development (EN5221) critically engages with different dimensions of leadership to enable student to develop their sense of themselves as a leader.
- Leadership Webinar with leading international expert in leadership.
Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.
For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules.
Core modules
- Leading School Development (EN5292) emphasises evidence informed decision making at the level of the school, what constitutes evidence, and the decision-making processes to identify priorities.
- Mentoring and Coaching (EN5332) explores current theory, policy and practice of mentoring in the Irish system and examines international best practice models.
- Leadership Visit – School Based
- Leadership Webinar with leading international expert in leadership.
Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.
For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules.
Programme content - Year 2
Core modules
- Managing the Organisation (EN5261) builds on the learning outcomes of Mentoring & Coaching and is foundational for further capacity building.
- Developing Leadership Capacity (EN5251) focuses on understanding the dynamic relationship between leadership, school culture and change.
- Leadership Visit – Non-Educational Setting
- Leadership Webinar with leading international expert in Leadership.
Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.
For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules.
