Building Leadership for Change through School Immersion 2018

Building Leadership for Change through School Immersion (BLCSI) is a major initiative funded by the Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Saudi, and aims to upskill the professional capacity of Saudi teachers and school leaders and transform the Saudi Education system through exposure to innovative Research and Best Practice in teaching and learning. The Monash Faculty of Education was successfully awarded the project via a competitive bidding process. The project includes the following components:
(1) Research Component
“A case study of development and building leadership for change through school immersion”. This program of research involves the English language educators, Monash University academic mentors and program leads, host schools and the Saudi participants and the following research methods and approaches will be embedded throughout the program. Formal approval for the case study research will be sought from the Monash Human Research Ethics Committee.
Saudi program participants will be involved in the research through:
 capturing ongoing dialogue and conversations in focus group discussions in small groups about their professional learning;
 regular feedback and written evaluations of all program elements throughout the program (completed anonymously)
 one to one semi-structured interviews between mentors and individual participants.
Host schools will be involved in the research through:
 Capturing ongoing dialogue and conversations in focus groups discussions between the Monash Mentors, Saudi participants and Host school participants as well as through semi-structured interviews.
Monash English Language educators, mentors and academic leaders and instructors to capture and analyse:
 The ongoing development and organisation of the professional learning in this program; and
 Insights into the development of the program themes and professional capstone project.
The research findings will be provided to all stakeholders and will be utilised to frame a research report, journal publications and presentations at targeted international conferences.
(2) Professional Learning Components
 A series of professional learning workshops delivered by the Faculty of Education throughout the year
 12 weeks customised intensive English language at Monash College, followed by a weekly English language session throughout the program;
 15 weeks guided immersion program in 2 different schools for each participant; and
 Mentoring and guidance by Monash academics for the delivery of a capstone project aiming to impact teaching and learning in the participants’ home schools.