Online postgraduate course in Leadership and Educational Management open to Marists throughout the world

The Province of Central America, in conjunction with the Marist University of Guadalajara (Province of Western Mexico), will begin in August a new cohort for the Master’s Degree in Leadership and Educational Management, aimed at all Marists who wish to train themselves to continue contributing in a co-responsible way to the mission of “making Jesus Christ known and loved” through innovative management and a deep sense of Marist identity.

The postgraduate course in the virtual synchronised modality lasts for two years (2020 – 2022) and is directed by  Brother Nicéforo Garrán, Provincial Co-ordinator of Education of the Province of Central America and Ana Isabel Saborío Jenkins, co-ordinator of the programme. Experts from different countries such as Spain, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Chile and Puerto Rico are also part of the teaching staff.

Spanish-speaking Marist leaders, teachers, administrators and Marists from all over the world – whose countries are part of the Hague Convention (for the recognition of official documents of qualification) – can participate in Marist formation.

Background to the Master’s Degree

The project of the Master’s in Marist Educational Management was launched in the Province of América Central under the direction of Brother Luis Carlos Gutiérrez Blanco and the co-ordination of Ana Isabel Saborío.  The initiative took place through a collaborative agreement between the Province of América Central and the Marcellin Champagnat University in Lima (Peru). At the same time, it was the Inter-American Commission of Marist Mission that accepted the proposal of the Sub-commission of Formation of Directors to initiate a process of formation to strengthen the capacities and to develop an integral leadership that will help education in each country and the educational work. The first master’s degree (2013 – 2014) was held at the Marcellin Champagnat University in Lima and is currently being held at the Marist University of Guadalajara.

Specific objectives of the postgraduate course

1. To recognize the components and the commitment of ethical leadership of service in the educational administration of Marist centres.

2. To develop visions and skills in the organization and management of schools that allow for innovation in the micro and macro practices of the communities. To be aware of new possibilities concerning advice, coordination and follow-up of team work.

3. To promote sustained processes of personnel management, institutional climate and professional development that respond to a positive vision of institutional growth and to the dimensions proper to the Social Doctrine of the Church.

4. To promote systems and skills for planning centres based on shared visions and missions, respectful of institutional values, aware of their social responsibility, in a cooperative manner and with short, medium and long term projection.

5. To encourage a climate of positive institutional evaluation, through the understanding and adaptation of educational supervision skills and internal and external evaluation systems.

6. To promote and support the reworking and deepening of curricular and educational projects, of curricular leadership, in order to direct them towards innovation and social transformation, social responsibility, and attention to the most needy.

7. Identify and adapt innovative educational practices and class management actions that transfer the changes to the daily reality of the centres, and maintain the updating of methodology.

At the moment, a total of 30 people are finishing their thesis process to be graduated from the Marist University of Guadalajara with the title of Master in Leadership and Educational Management, of whom 24 are Chileans and 6 from the Province of Central America.

To find out more details, we have attached an infogram, and if you need more information you can write to this e-mail: [email protected]