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Accepting Doctoral Students

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Personal profile

Research interests

I am interested in exploring critical leadership theories, with a particular interest in educational leadership, especially distributed forms; school networks and educational reform; as well as initial 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 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 Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Educational Leadership, Management and Governance, I teach on the Doctor of Education (EdD) and MA Education programmes, besides being the Deputy Director of Studies of the EdD programme. I have also taught on the Education with Psychology undergraduate programme.

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
  • 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):

  • SDG 4 - Quality Education
  • SDG 5 - Gender Equality
  • SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

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

Elected Council Member, BELMAS

12 Sept 2022 → …

Invited member, International School Leadership Development Network

8 Jul 2022 → …

Convenor of the Social Theory and Education SIG within BERA

27 Jun 2022 → …

Co-convenor of the Critical Education Policy and Leadership Studies Research Interest Group, BELMAS

1 Jan 2022 → …

European Commission expert , European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), European Commission

1 Oct 2021 → …

National expert for Eurydice, Eurydice National Unit, Malta

Jan 2019Jul 2022

Ministerial Representative, University Senate, University of Malta

20172019

Independent assessor, European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA)

1 Mar 20111 Mar 2012

Associate Fellow, EMCER (Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Educational Research), University of Malta

Keywords

  • critical leadership theories
  • educational leadership
  • distributed leadership
  • teacher education
  • policy analysis
  • initial and ongoing teacher education
  • Foucault
  • Actor-Network theory
  • social justice

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