Education is one of the most important fields in national and international development. International actors, national authorities, communities, and individuals all consider formal learning to be a key factor in “development”. The nature of the education agenda is invariably controversial.  As a result, education constitutes a rich lens for viewing the social, economic, and political aspects of development.

In this fast-changing world, stakeholders of education are quality conscious and are seeking education institutions that can assure the quality of education at the level of their expectations.  This situation demands well-versed, competent, dynamic, and change-oriented educational leaders and managers in educational organizations who are capable of adopting modern leadership and management techniques and practices. Keeping in view of current needs and requirements of educational institutions, in 2007, Kathmandu University, School of Education has initiated M.Ed. degree in Education Management for the purpose of preparing future educational managers and leaders who can efficiently and effectively run educational institutions in Nepal and abroad.

M.Ed in Leadership and Management is a revised program of M Ed in Educational Management of Kathmandu University School of Education (KUSOED). This program intends to develop educational leaders who are responsible for ensuring students’ optimal learning ability in schools and these educational leaders can interpret national and global trends and issues in the school setting. An attempt will be made to impart essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for an effective school Principal and educational leader who can provide dynamic leadership for change and innovation, academic success, and optimum satisfaction of stakeholders.

The purpose of specialization in Leadership and Management is to prepare educational leaders who can demonstrate high levels of management and leadership theoretical knowledge and skills to provide effective and efficient educational services to all learners and satisfy their stakeholders. The graduates specializing in Leadership and Management are expected to be responsive to the changing educational technologies, pedagogical practices, changes and innovation in education, and an ever-increasing new body of knowledge.

The proposed program will have the following key features.

• Need-based: One of the major features of the program is to address the need of secondary, higher secondary schools, and other education-related institutes. Formal and informal interaction with teachers, teacher educators, school principals, teacher education experts, teacher development organizers, and materials developers have demonstrated a need for educational leaders to drive educational institutions.
• Practice-based and skills-oriented: The students will undergo practical experience by literally undertaking tasks of managing and leading organizations, facilitating professional development workshops, undertaking small-scale research projects, and developing materials. The use of ICT in managing and leading schools is highly valued. When they come out from the University, they will be expected to be independent practitioners in the field.
• Conducive learning environment: A high-quality team that includes educators, managers, leaders, and visiting faculty with a sound, firsthand experience of leaders development, preparing educators, and research in education management and leadership will be involved to run the program. The prospective students will be oriented to use the available resources, such as the library and computer facilities. The learning will be backed up by a continuous assessment and feedback system.
• Internationally comparable: The course has been developed after a thorough survey of the Master’s Course in Education Management and Leadership of different universities. The intellectual challenge intended to be triggered by this course and the practical exposures are actually comparable to the ones of those universities. The postgraduates will come out with knowledge and skills sound enough to work in the international arena.