Critical Perspectives on Changes in Educational Leadership Practice

This paper examines a group of Chinese educational leaders’leadership practice changes after undertaking a leadership development course offered by an Australian university in China.It presents their self-reported changes in leadership practice profiles and features selected vignettes.The study was primarily qualitative and interpretative,based on the interview responses of 20 participants.The findings showed that exposure to different perspectives appeared to expand participants’views and equip them with a wider range of leadership strategies.Despite some observable differences in practices reported by participants from the three sectors(school,educational system,and university),there seemed to be more similarities than variance.The respondents were cautious about radical changes in leadership practice,reiterating that local contexts and cultures must be considered when accommodating Western educational ideas.The study suggests that participants’self-reported changes in leadership practices resulted from mediation of contextual and cultural conditions rather than the direct transfer of Western ideas and practices into the Chinese context.

Successful Entrepreneurs： Its Leadership Style and Actual Practices

Entrepreneurs are facing pressures related to sustainability, quality assurance, and the ability to meet client expectations. Such pressures require effective leadership to lead, change, and improve enterprise performance in order to meet the demand for current and future business. Many of the new changes that are occurring in business today are transformational. They are driven by the environment and client need. The entrepreneur may not know the exact outcome at first, because it emerges throughout the process. It requires a fundamental change in their mindset and organizational culture, and requires continual course corrections to the change process. This research was conducted to help the aspiring entrepreneurs to develop and improve their leadership style. One hundred and fifty successful Bicolano entrepreneurs were surveyed and interviewed about their actual leadership styles and practices and this was the basis for developing a leadership program for aspiring or future entrepreneurs. Transformational leadership was the leadership style fairly often use of the successful entrepreneurs and this is characterized as being optimist about future of their business, enthusiastic about what needs to be accomplished, articulate a compelling vision of the future and expresses confidence that goals will be achieved.

Dancing in Fetters?Chinese Principals’Perceptions of the Effects of Finnish Training Programs

Although there is an increased interest in overseas training for educational leaders in China,little is known about the value of such programs.This qualitative case study explores Chinese school principals’perceptions of leadership practices and professional development after undertaking a Finnish training program.The article also explores difficulties related to different educational contexts when an attempt is made at applying the Finnish education experience to China.Famed for its excellent education,Finland is currently actively involved in exporting its education by providing such training programs to the whole world.Data was collected by semi-structured interviews with six Shanghai principals.The results showed a certain level of satisfaction but also needs for improvement.It thus appears that such an overseas training program can play a positive but limited role in expanding Chinese principals’leadership practices and professional development.