The Malta Society for Educational Administration and Management is organising a seminar on the 23rd of October at the Gozo College Boys’ Secondary School, by Professor Joanna Madalinska-Michalak University of Lodz Poland, on ‘Cultural Change in Polish Schools in Challenging Urban Contexts.’

The presentation draws upon outcomes from Polish schools in challenging urban contexts participating in a wider comparative study being conducted in England and Poland to look at perceived effective practice and policy for school leaders working in these circumstances.

During the presentation Joanna will examine cultural change and elements of successful leadership for Polish schools achieving against the odds in circumstances of relatively insufficient resources and limited state support through inclusive ways of working.

She will focus on how headteachers work toward building a culture of success and will point out: (i) the vital elements of passion, commitment and values of leaders and their colleagues in making a difference and achieving cultural change in tough circumstances, (ii) practical support available to leaders and their staff: community “self-help,” infrastructure of professional input in these communities; (iii) the perceived role of schools to “hold the ring” for the young people and their families, (iv) the perceived need to challenge existing pedagogical traditions to make major progress, and (v) the tangible sense of Poland being a country in a rush to modernise and make progress in the educational sphere.

Joanna Madalinska-Michalak, is Professor of Education (2008-) at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Lodz and Head of the Chair of Didactics and Teacher Education. She is vice-president of Polish Pedagogical Association and member of Council Board of European Educational Research Association and Teacher Educational Policy in Europe.

She is an advisor and a reviewer in scientific national and international journals. She has contributed in many EU projects and working groups as an expert. She has long-standing research interests in comparative education, teacher education and educational leadership.

Joanna has published in the areas of teacher education, exemplary teachers and leaders, teacher’s success and its conditions, teacher’s and leader’s professional development and learning, educational leadership. She has taught both locally and abroad in the areas of teacher education and the professional development of teachers and educational leaders in countries such as Austria, England, Estonia, Latvia, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey.

The MSEAM seminar takes place on the 23rd of October from 6.00pm till 8.00pm at Gozo College Boys’ Secondary School.

Those interested in attending the seminar should please contact Prof Christopher Bezzina – MSEAM President on contact@mseam.info.

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