Principals' Qualification Program

Course Fee | Course Dates | Admission Requirements | Course Format | Course Overview

"I have never been fond of distinguishing between leadership and management; they overlap and you need both qualities. But here is one difference that it makes sense to highlight: leadership is needed for problems that do not have easy answers. The big problems of the day are complex, rife with paradoxes and dilemmas. For these problems there are no once-and-for-all answers." - Michael Fullan, Leading in a Culture of Change

The role of the Principal in modern, dynamic, diverse schools is critical to the academic success of Ontario's youth. At OISE, the Principals' Qualification Program (PQP) has been designed to assist Ontario's future school administrators to successfully lead effective schools for our children and the youth of the 21st century.

Course Fee:

Course Dates:

PQP Admission Requirements:

Click here to view the PQP Policies and Admission Requirements

PQP Course Format:

PQP courses are partially online, consisting of both online and in-class sections. Both sections must be completed in order to pass the course.

Courses begin online, and require approximately 20 online hours. They are followed by 10 days in-class, which may be over 5 weekends (school year offerings) or over two weeks (July offering). Summer PQP is held in downtown Toronto, while our Fall and Winter programs take place at the main OISE building in the downtown campus at the University of Toronto.

Our downtown locations provide candidates with an opportunity to learn with a diverse and varied group of educational leaders who brin with them unique educational experiences.

For PQP session dates and deadlines please visit the Course Offerings page and search for PQP.

PQP Course Overview:

The PQP, both parts 1 & 2, is a challenging, exciting and rewarding program that meets the highest standards of both the University of Toronto and the Ontario College of Teachers.

OISEs reputation as a world leader in educational research speaks for itself. The integration of this research into our PQP ensures that candidates' own professional practice is as leading edge as the University of Toronto itself. Candidates apply these theories of leadership and school administration to practice, in their current location.

Our PQP links candidates to OISE faculty and other world-renowned researchers in the area of education and leadership. The program is designed to provide a continuum of learning from Part 1 through Part 2, allowing candidates to learn and grow together in an intellectually stimulating and risk-free environment. Our instructors are all practicing, expert Principals and represent a wide variety of experiences and demographics - urban and suburban schools, secondary and elementary panels, large regional schools and smaller community schools.

It is said that 90% of the training that leaders receive is technical, while 90% of the challenges they encounter are dependent on the development of positive relationships (Dan Ciampa). Further, Roland Barth states, "the nature of the relationships among the adults who inhabit a school has more to do with the school's quality character, and with the accomplishment of its pupils than any other factor." Given the importance of the development of adaptive skills for future school leaders, the OISE PQP provides candidates with a balance between technical and adaptive skill development. This focus on both the cognitive and intra/interpersonal domains of professional development is a key component of the OISE PQP.

Each course consists of 125 total course hours.

1. Online interaction with the Course Instructor and the other candidates, includes professional reflection and discussion of the application of related research to the assigned topics. OISE’s Blackboard platform for onlne courses is used to facilitate regular discussion between course instructors and candidates related to current, authentic case studies and scenarios. Reflective practice is a critical tool for today’s Principal and Vice-Principal, and this electronic networking complements the in class sessions and encourages this reflection in an easy-to-use and straightforward computer platform. This contact accounts for approximately 20 hours of the course total.

2. In class contact time spent in small or large groups with the direct involvement of the instructor accounts for 75 hours of the course total.

3. Ongoing online interaction with the instructors and candidates on assignments related to
   the in-class module topics.

The OISE program provides candidates with a variety of learning experiences including:

• Plenary speakers including the world's leading educational researchers;

• Large group learning activities focusing on the interpersonal and intrapersonal domains of professional development;

• Small group experiences including discussions on current, practical, authentic issues in modern schools;

• Online learning providing dynamic opportunities to read, discuss and apply current knowledge on the Principalship;

• Excellent integration of theory and practice;

• The experience of current, practicing, leading edge Principals.
   

The Principals’ Qualification Course programs are based on the 5 core topics outlined by the Ontario College of Teachers:
 

• An approved Practicum Proposal is required to complete the Part 1 of the PQP
• The completion of the Practicum is required to complete the Part 2 of the PQP.

The Practicum is a required leadership and educational experience of sixty (60) hours duration. This may be comprised of either a) 60 hours practical leadership project or b) 40 hours practical leadership project plus 20 hours observation of a practicing Principal/Vice-Principal. Please click on “practicum planner” in the PQP Course Specific Information for complete details.

Part 1 and Part 2 Modules

• Setting Directions
• Building Relationships and Developing People
• Developing the Organization
• Leading the Instructional Program
• Securing Accountability

For further specific information about the Principals' Qualification Program, please contact the course Principal, by email at: aq@oise.utoronto.ca.