We live in an era when the old-world order has passed but a new world order is yet to fully take shape: evocatively described by Antonio Gramsci as a time of monsters. 

Marked by profound global crises—the violent onslaught in Palestine, accelerating environmental degradation, and authoritarianism in what was once the world defender of democracy, contemporary educational leaders face unprecedented challenges. The seminar, Leadership in a Time of Monsters: Responding to contemporary challenges, seeks to critically examine the roles and responses of educational leaders. 

Three invited speakers each of whom bring an international perspective will discuss that challenges HEIs are currently facing, sharing their personal experiences of resistance, leading institutional change and maintaining an ethical core to their practice.

The session aims to: 

• explore the complex challenges contemporary educational leaders face in monstrous times of environmental crisis, and rising authoritarianism.
• equip educational leaders with insights and strategies to fully appreciate the implications of shifting tectonic plates in global realignment
• hold space for dialogue, solidarity, and collaboration among educators, activists, and experts working for educational leadership that appreciates equity, justice and sustainability.

We hope delegates will leave the seminar confident in their capacity to:

• Identify practical skills and approaches that leaders may deploy in schools, colleges and universities in response to ongoing global crises.
• Share a platform with others to articulate preferred practices, challenges, and innovations from multiple national and international contexts.
• Critically reflect with others on the role of education in addressing social injustice, ecological degradation, and authoritarian tendencies.
• Build networks and partnerships among national and international others to support ongoing collaboration and advocacy.

Draft Programme:

13:00pm         Introduction: in what ways are we living in a time of monsters?; Carol Azumah
                           Dennis, Open University; Karen Healey, University of Manchester

13:15pm          The responsibility of university leadership during times of genocide.; Kristina
                           Hultgren, Open University

13:35pm          Educational leadership with courage and care; Eric Addae-Kyeremeh, Open
                          University

13:55pm          Break

14:00pm         “The precarities of teaching “race, gender, and class issues in education” in a
                           state that limits DEI initiatives”; Katherine Cumings Mansfield, Brenda Rubio;
                            Independent Researchers

14:20pm         Correspondent; Edward Sosu, University of Glasgow

14:30pm         Discussion

14:50pm         Closing comments; Carol Azumah Dennis, Open University, Open University;
                           Karen Healey, University of Manchester

15:00pm         Close of Event