Doctoral thesis on pedagogical leadership

On June 2, Guillermo Rodríguez Molina defended his thesis on pedagogical leadership, as a central theme, and punctually analyzed the influence of the curricular management practices of the Pedagogic Technical Units (UTP) in the teaching practices of municipal establishments From Chile. Specifically in the Bío Bío and Araucanía regions.

The study emerged from the validity of leadership in school organizations in the field of research and the strong permeability in all areas of school management. Mainly, the pedagogical leaderships, which in Chile are denominated Heads of Technical Pedagogical Units (JUTP), their curricular management practices and how they influence the practices of teachers, were investigated as subjects of study. In addition, a curriculum management model was designed based on the evidence gathered in the research.

The director of the thesis was Dr. Joaquín Gairín Sallán, director of the EDO group of the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Among the conclusions that were obtained from the results and responding to the objectives of the research, we find that the Chiefs of Pedagogic Technical Units exert the majority of pedagogical leadership functions. On the other hand, they are recognized as pedagogical leaders by the teaching staff and, at the level of practices, have a direct and positive influence on several of the pedagogical practices of teachers. They are able to articulate their practices with the strategic actions of the organization and distribute work with the directors of the establishments. At the normative level, Guillermo found that there is no clear policy regarding the functions of these professionals, there is no specific training to assume these functions and that their integration in organizations depends on both the holder and the directors.