On 21 September 2024, the Educational Leadership Forum, organised by the UoM China Centre, was held in Shanghai, bringing together scholars and industry experts to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and future trends of educational leadership. Prof. Steven Courtney from the Manchester Institute of Education, Dr. Paul Armstrong, Director of the UoM Master’s in Educational Leadership in Practice (MA ELiP), Dr. Bee Hughes, Deputy Director, Prof. Rupert Ward, Executive Dean of the Sino-British College at USST, and Dr. Gaoning Kong, Vice President of Golden Arrow Group Holding Corp, shared their innovative insights during the presentations.

The forum was chaired by Ms. Sherry Fu, Director of UoM China Centre. In her opening remarks, Ms. Fu warmly welcomed the attendees and highlighted the significance of educational leadership in driving reform and enhancing the quality in education. She expressed her anticipation for academic exchange and sharing of practical experiences.

Prof. Steven Courtney at the Keynote Speech

Prof. Steven Courtney delivered an inspiring keynote speech titled "Education Reform and Constructions of School Leadership." He explored the reform of educational leadership through the lenses of time and geography, elaborating on various leadership models such as Transformational, and Distributed. Prof. Courtney also reflected on a core issue in educational management—Leadership or Managerialism—which resonated with the audience.

Panel Discussion(from left)：Ms. Sherry Fu, Prof. Rupert Ward, Dr. Paul Armstrong, Dr.Gaoning Kong

In the panel discussion, Dr. Armstrong, Prof. Ward, and Dr. Kong shared insights and reflections based on their practical experiences, covering topics such as educational policy implementation, international educational exchanges, management of cross-cultural educational institutions, and the impact of assessment mechanisms on education. The discussion also envisioned the ideal future of education, emphasising the need for education to transcend traditional classrooms and empower lifelong learning to meet individual needs at various stages. Prof. Ward concluded that education should “provide the opportunities, recognise talent, and value any achievements.”

The visit of academics from the University of Manchester facilitated a three-3-days conference with students, forming part of the in-person curriculum for the MA ELiP programme. Serving as a bridge between the university's leading educational offerings, academic teams, and local industrial talents, the China Centre aims to create greater opportunities for exchange and collaboration, thereby enhancing talent development within the wider community from an international perspective.