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; 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):
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 2019 → Jul 2022
Ministerial Representative, University Senate, University of Malta
2017 → 2019
Independent assessor, European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA)
1 Mar 2011 → 1 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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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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A systematic review of school distributed leadership: Exploring research purposes, concepts and approaches in the field between 2010 and 2022
Mifsud, D., 5 Jan 2023, In: Journal of Educational Administration and History .Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Citations (SciVal)159 Downloads (Pure) -
Conducting comparative analyses of social justice leadership: Creating an international research team from diverse country, policy and education system contexts
Torrance, D., Forde, C., Harvie, J., Mitchell, A., King, F., Jean McGowan, J., Travers, J., Mahfouz, J., Arlestig, H., Mifsud, D., Flood, L., Angelle, P. & Chisolm, L., 17 Aug 2023, In: Equity in Education and Society. 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Headteachers and the pandemic: Themes from a review of literature on leadership for professional learning in complex times
Torrance, D., Mifsud, D., Niesche, R. & Fertig, M., 2 Jul 2023, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Professional Development in Education. 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile15 Downloads (Pure) -
Improving the Higher Education Model of Principals’ Development in England and Sweden
Outhwaite, D., Sahlin, S. & Mifsud, D., 31 Jul 2023, Improving Higher Education Models Through International Comparative Analysis. Storey, V. & Beeman, T. (eds.). Florida, U. S. A.: IGI Global, p. 253-270Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter or section
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Leadership preparation and development policies in England and Sweden: Comparing policies and practices
Sahlin, S., Outhwaite, D. & Mifsud, D., 16 Jul 2023.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review