Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
I am interested in exploring critical leadership theories, with a particular interest in educational leadership, especially distributed forms; educational policy analysis, generation, reception, and enactment; school networks and educational reform; as well as teacher education. I engage with Foucauldian theory; Actor-Network theory, as well as qualitative research methods, with a particular focus on narrative, in addition to creative and unconventional modes of data representation.
I have over two decades of practitioner experience in education settings in both teaching and high-level leadership roles within the Maltese Ministry for Education, besides being an independent education researcher and consultant. I previously held a full-time lecturing post at the University of the West of Scotland as well as being a part-time lecturer at the University of Malta. I am also an Associate Research Fellow of the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Educational Research within the same university.
I was awarded my PhD by the University of Stirling in 2015. My PhD thesis, 'Raising the curtain on relations of power in a Maltese school network', explored the unfolding of networking in school governance in a Maltese college (cluster of primary and secondary schools) via the performance of policy-mandated collegiality, the flow of power relations, and leadership distribution. I also have a Master of Science in Educational Leadership by the University of Leicester (2008), prior to which I obtained a Bachelors in Education with First Class Honours from the University of Malta (1999).
Teaching interests
As Associate Professor in Educational Leadership, Management and Governance, I teach on the Doctor of Education (EdD) and MA Education programmes, besides being the Director of Studies (Thesis stage) of the EdD programme . I have also taught on the Education with Psychology undergraduate programme.
Other responsibilities
Besides acting as the EdD Director of Studies (Thesis Stage), I am the Director of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) within the Department. I am course creator of the 'Teaching, Learning & Management in Higher Education' CPD programme that is offered to academics from foreign institutions.
Since February 2022, I have also taken on the role of Departmental Writing Retreat Facilitator running both residential and online writing retreats for colleagues and doctoral students.
Willing to supervise doctoral students
I am interested in supervising EdD and PhD students in topics related to my research interests.
Research interests:
- critical leadership theories, with a particular interest in educational leadership, especially distributed forms
- leadership for social justice and equity
- teacher leadership
- school networks and educational reform
- power relations within educational institutions/organizations
- educational policy analysis, generation, reception and enactment
- initial and ongoing teacher education
- Foucauldian theory
- Actor-Network theory
- qualitative research methods, with a particular focus on narrative, as well as creative and unconventional modes of data representation
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Raising the curtain on relations of power in a Maltese school network, University of Stirling
Award Date: 18 Mar 2015
Educational Leadership, Master of Science, University of Leicester
Award Date: 11 Jul 2008
Bachelor of Education, University of Malta
Award Date: 19 Nov 1999
External positions
Adjunct Professor, School of Education, Faculty of Education & Health Sciences, University of Limerick
7 Oct 2024 → …
Co-Editor-in-Chief, International Studies in Sociology of Education
1 Jan 2024 → …
Conference & Events Chair, BELMAS
14 Jul 2023 → 12 Jul 2024
Assistant Editor, International Journal of Leadership in Education
1 Jul 2023 → …
Convenor of the International Collective for the Study of Michel Foucault in Educational Leadership, Administration & Policy research group
1 Jun 2023 → …
Associate Editor, Equity in Education and Society
1 Nov 2022 → …
Elected Council Member, BELMAS
12 Sept 2022 → 12 Jul 2024
Invited member, International School Leadership Development Network
8 Jul 2022 → …
Convenor of the Social Theory and Education SIG within BERA
27 Jun 2022 → 31 Jan 2024
Convenor of the Critical Education Policy and Leadership Studies Research Interest Group, BELMAS
1 Jan 2022 → 31 Jan 2025
European Commission expert , European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), European Commission
1 Oct 2021 → …
National expert for Eurydice, Eurydice National Unit, Malta
Jan 2019 → Jul 2022
Ministerial Representative, University Senate, University of Malta
2017 → 2019
Associate Research Fellow, EMCER (Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Educational Research), University of Malta
2016 → 2024
Independent assessor, European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA)
1 Mar 2011 → 1 Mar 2012
Keywords
- critical leadership theories
- educational leadership
- distributed leadership
- teacher education
- policy analysis
- initial and ongoing teacher education
- Foucault
- Actor-Network theory
- social justice
- school governance
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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BELMAS Research and Development Grant, Project title: ‘Exploring middle leadership and followership in state schools in Ireland’
Mifsud, D. (PI) & Blom, N. (PI)
1/01/25 → 31/12/25
Project: UK charity
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Research England Policy Support Fund, Project title: 'Exploring equity and social justice education provision in Ghana: Support for evidence-based and research-informed policymaking'
Mifsud, D. (PI)
1/12/24 → 31/07/25
Project: Research council
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ESRC IAA - Equity and social justice education provision project: Impact activities across and beyond continents
Mifsud, D. (PI)
Economic and Social Research Council
1/09/25 → 31/03/26
Project: Research council
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Grant Capture Capability Fund AY 2023-2024 by the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, University of Bath; Initiative title: ‘The effects of digital technology and artificial intelligence on school leadership practices and policies: A cross-comparative study in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Australia’
Mifsud, D. (PI)
1/04/24 → 31/12/24
Project: Research-related funding
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An examination of school leadership types and their effect on teacher turnover intentions: Evidence from TALIS
Sipahioglu, M., Mifsud, D. & Eryilmaz, N., 21 Apr 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Leadership and Policy in Schools .Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile21 Downloads (Pure) -
A scoping review of followership literature in compulsory schooling contexts
Blom, N. & Mifsud, D., 28 Jan 2025, (Submitted) In: School Leadership and Management.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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A systematic review of school governance literature between 2000 and 2023
Mifsud, D. & Wilkins, A. W., 17 Jan 2025, (Submitted) In: Review of Education.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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The experience of imposed digitalization of education provision across sectors: Autoethnographic experiences through a Foucauldian lens
Mifsud, D. & Orucu, D., 13 Feb 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: European Educational Research Journal. 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile17 Downloads (Pure) -
Educational leadership and Michel Foucault: A scoping review of contributions and impact.
Niesche, R., Mifsud, D. & Bongers, A., 5 Jul 2024.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Prizes
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Conference & Events Chair, British Educational Leadership Management and Administration Society (BELMAS)
Mifsud, D. (Recipient), 2023
Prize: Election to learned society
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Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Education & Health Sciences, University of Limerick
Mifsud, D. (Recipient), 7 Oct 2024
Prize: Honorary appointment
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International Journal of Leadership in Education Emerging Scholar Competition Winner
Mifsud, D. (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Scottish Educational Research Association Estelle Brisard Memorial Prize 2015
Mifsud, D. (Recipient), 2015
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Elected Malta Educational Research Association (MERA) Administrative Board member and appointed Public Relations Officer
Mifsud, D. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Election to learned society
Activities
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'Does distributed leadership dominate the educational leadership field? Exploring the concept in theory and practice within the school context'. Invited keynote panel discussant at the Current Trends in Educational Leadership, Management & Administration Conference, Western Galilee College, Israel
Mifsud, D. (Keynote speaker)
28 Mar 2024Activity: Academic conferences and events (excluding conference publications) › Keynote presentation or prestigious invited talk
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'Critical perspectives on educational leadership and the response to COVID-19'. Chair and discussant of the CEPaLS RIG seminar with the invited speakers Prof Pat Thomson and Prof Toby Greany, University of Bath
Mifsud, D. (Chair)
16 Jun 2022Activity: Academic conferences and events (excluding conference publications) › Other academic event (organisation, presentation, attendance)
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External Examiner, PhD thesis submitted by Ahmed Alsaadi, University College London
Mifsud, D. (Examiner)
21 Mar 2025Activity: External examination and supervision › External examination
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'Leading schools through and beyond the pandemic', Panel speaker at the UCEA Conference 2023, Minneapolis, US
Mifsud, D. (Speaker)
18 Nov 2023Activity: Academic conferences and events (excluding conference publications) › Conference or panel chair
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The BERA Blog (Journal)
Mifsud, D. (Editor)
Apr 2023 → Jun 2023Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial roles › Publication peer review