Doctoral study in Leadership

Leadership is central to creating organisations that can meet the diverse needs of learners and communities during these complex and challenging times. Our research and teaching focuses on developing leadership in diverse contexts. We are committed to advancing leadership practices that empower educators and leaders across various sectors. While much of our work is in the schooling sector, we also work across other sectors and disciplines, addressing complex challenges in diverse contexts.

Our researchers who supervise doctoral studies in education represent several important and related areas including equity, systems theory, policy, schooling improvement, indigenous leadership, relational practice, professional learning and organisational development.

Enrolling in doctoral studies in leadership opens up possibilities to engage with our researchers including staff and other doctoral students. It enables you to create your own research community and networks with others from New Zealand and internationally.

Pursue your topic with us and benefit from exceptional standards of support and supervision from nationally and internationally recognised researchers in the following broad research areas:

Community leadership

Laura Ann Chubb, John Fenaughty, Deidre Le Fevre, Ema Wolfgramm-Foliaki, Christa Fouché

Crisis leadership

Deidre Le Fevre, Camilla Highfield, Carol Mutch

Educational improvement

Laura Ann Chubb, Fiona Ell, Camilla Highfield, Maia Hetaraka, Rebecca Jesson, Deidre Le Fevre, Kerry Lee, Mei Lai, Frauke Meyer, Kane Meissel, Claire Sinnema, Jo Smith, Aaron Wilson

Educational leadership

Maria Cooper, Janet Gaffney, Kiri Gould, Camilla Highfield, Deidre Le Fevre, Mei Lai, Frauke Meyer, Jude MacArthur, Missy Morton, Vivienne Mackisack, Claire Sinnema, Jo Smith

Indigenous leadership

Piata Allen, Maria Cooper, David Fa'avae, Frances Hancock, Maia Hetaraka, Jean M Uasike Allen, Hana Turner-Adams, Ema Wolfgramm-Foliaki, Melinda Webber

Mentoring

Pat Bullen, Deidre Le Fevre, Lexie Grudnoff, Vivienne Mackisack, Lyn McDonald, Matt Rankine

'Developing Leadership Capability for Rigorous Inquiry: An Intervention Study' | Supervised by Associate Professor Claire Sinnema and Professor Deidre Le Fevre

'Intervening for Educational Improvement: A Problem-Based Methodology Approach to Understanding and Implementing Curriculum' | Supervised by Associate Professor Claire Sinnema and Emeritus Professor Viviane Robinson

'A Socio-Ecological Approach to Improve Educator Wellbeing: Effects of the MARKERS Programme on Educator Wellbeing and Relational Space in a School' | Supervised by Associate Professor Claire Sinnema, Professor Alan Daly and Dr Joelle Rodway

'It’s Not My Job to Teach Them How to Write: Accounting Academics and Their Students’ Writing Development' | Supervised by Associate Professor Claire Sinnema, Associate Professor Mary Hill and Dr Lyn McDonald

'Leadership task effectiveness and student achievement: Perceptions of principals, deputy principals and lead teachers' | Supervised by Associate Professor Frauke Meyer, Professor Deidre Le Fevre and Dr Mohamed Alansari

'Open-to-learning conversations and their link to improving student achievement in reading' | Supervised by Emeritus Professor Viviane Robinson and Associate Professor Claire Sinnema

'Risk or resistance: Understanding teachers’ perceptions of risk in professional learning' | Supervised by Professor Deidre Le Fevre and Emeritus Professor Helen Timperley

'Shifting the lens: Everyday collective leadership activity in education' | Supervised by Emeritus Professor Helen Hedges and Professor Deidre Le Fevre

'Teacher Leadership: Lived Experiences of Community of Learning' | Kāhui Ako Across Schools Teachers in Aotearoa | New Zealand' | Supervised by Professor Rebecca Jesson and Dr Camilla Highfield

'The engagement of Samoan fathers and male caregivers in New Zealand secondary school parent–student–teacher conferences. E tu manu ae le tu logologo: O Tamā Samoa ma fonotaga a matua, tamaiti ma faiaoga i aoga maualuluga i Niu Sila' | Supervised by Associate Professor Claire Sinnema and Dr Tanya Samu

There are several scholarships you may be eligible for when you decide to pursue your doctoral studies in leadership.

• University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships