Royal Roads University

Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and Leadership

Program Description

The Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and Leadership (MAHEAL) is a two-year, 33-credit program that will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective leadership within complex and changing higher educational environments. This program will prepare you to develop the skills required to work collaboratively, take a systems view of their organization, build enduring relationships and partnerships, make evidence-based decisions, think critically, plan strategically and lead meaningful educational change.

Designed in collaboration with current leaders in the field, the MAHEAL program enables professionals to:

• Examine the relationship between theory and practice in higher educational environments;
• Acquire the knowledge, skills, and mindsets they need to be effective in their own post-secondary work environment;
• Gain a greater understanding of the issues facing higher education administrators and how to manage and resolve them; and
• Enhance their ability to critically assess research advances in the higher education leadership field and apply this knowledge to practice.

This program will allow you to customize your learning by choosing from two specialization options, a specialization in Business Development in International Education or a specialization in Systems Leadership in Higher Education and by selecting from two program completion options including a research paper (secondary research) or a thesis (primary research).

Specialization Options:

• Business Development in International Education – Ideal for those students who wish to focus on leadership in international education contexts.
• Systems Leadership in Higher Education - Ideal for students wishing to acquire a deep understanding of systems thinking to create meaningful educational change

Who it’s for

The MAHEAL program is designed for current or aspiring leaders in post-secondary educational environments who want to expand their expertise and gain new skills and credentials in the field of higher education administration and leadership, to advance or redirect their careers. Students of this program are required to have a background in higher education knowledge and experience, to learn more visit the program admission page.

Applicants who do not have the formal academic education to qualify for admission may be assessed based on both their formal education and their informal learning, in accordance with the Flexible Admission Policy. Please visit the program admission page for more information.

Outcomes

Graduates will develop an understanding of educational improvement concepts and research and be able to apply practical tools and strategies to address issues, challenges, and opportunities related to supporting student achievement and institutional growth.

Graduates will:

• Facilitate the collaborative development and implementation of shared values, vision, mission, and goals to support learning and achievement for all students;
• Understand and use change and improvement processes to support student learning and institutional growth;
• Build positive and effective relationships between the institution and the larger community;
• Integrate evidence-based decision making approaches into administrative leadership practices to support growth and improvement;
• Engage in meaningful self-assessment and self-awareness to enhance leadership skills, positive relationships, and professional goals;
• Apply systems thinking to strategically plan and manage the higher education institutional environment to support student learning;
• Engage in sound financial planning/budgeting and project management practices to support organizational goals;
• Foster and sustain an inclusive institutional culture and climate to support both student learning and faculty/staff professional growth;
• Critically analyze the leader’s own organizational context considering existing cultural norms, national/international trends and global perspectives;
• Implement authentic and meaningful strategies assuring program quality; and
• Lead collaborative and systematic inquiry processes that support institutional growth and improvement.

Delivery Model

The Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and Leadership (MAHEAL) is a two-year program offered in a blended delivery model, which combines online learning with one mandatory two-week on-campus residency and a second capstone mini-residency that can be completed on-campus or online. This blended delivery is designed to enable you to apply what you are learning in your courses while you are continuing to work full-time.

Residency

The residency is a carefully designed period of intense academic study in which students complete two courses – HEAL 501:Leading and Learning in Higher Education and HEAL 510: Approaches to Educational Research in Higher Education.

The schedule of instruction and studying during the residency is structured to optimize the face-to-face access to instructors, develop networks with fellow students, and access the services of the university that will support your learning over the two years of study. The typical daily schedule is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Team meetings, homework, and readings are done outside of these hours.

Online Learning

Online learning courses are delivered overusing our Internet-based Moodle platform. Supported by the rest of your cohort, you’ll be actively engaged in individual and team-based activities, projects and assignments that enable you to apply what you are learning to your own professional context while you are taking each course.

Each 3-credit course would require a level of effort of approximately 100 hours of effort. This varies from student to student and becomes easier as students familiarize themselves with Royal Roads University's online learning technologies, and learn how to work effectively with team members in a virtual setting. Students are required to engage on a regular basis with the course content and contribute academically to enhance cohort learning through blog/forum posts, discussion topics and required course activities and assignments.

Prior to beginning the program, you will be enrolled in two weeks noncredit session (LINK) designed to introduce you to our online learning environment, relevant academic policies and procedures, and to address your questions or concerns.

Courses

• ITAI: Introduction to Academic Integrity
• LRNTLNK: The Link
• HEAL501: Higher Education Leadership in Times of Change
• HEAL510: Approaches to Educational Research in Higher Education
• HEAL520: Global and National Perspectives on Higher Education
• HEAL525: Global Perspectives on International Education
• HEAL530: Leading Educational Change in Higher Education Environments
• HEAL535: Communication and Organizational Culture in a Globalized World
• HEAL540: New Models for Institutional Viability
• HEAL545: The Business of International Education
• HEAL550: Systems Thinking and Strategic Planning in Higher Education
• HEAL560: Quality, Accountability, and Educational Effectiveness
• HEAL570: Leveraging Technology in Higher Education Environments
• LRNT506: Proposal Development for Educational Research
• HEAL610: Research Paper: Leading and Sustaining Collaborative Inquiry Processes
• LRNT600: Advanced Research: Thesis Proposal
• LRNT690: Thesis

The Master of Arts in Higher Education and Administration Leadership program has been designed for the continued development of leadership and administration within the higher education sector to effectively lead institutions in what continues to be complex and global working and learning environments.

The types of higher education institutions, government, and non-government organizations that MAHEAL students are currently or aspire to be working in include, and may not be limited to the following:

• Universities (private and public)
• Colleges (private and public)
• Provincial Ministries of Advanced Education
• Canadian Forces – Training Development
• Higher education research agencies
• Higher education consulting firms
• International education partner agencies
• Higher education (domestic and international) associations

The program advances students’ knowledge and skills to equip them for leadership positions commonly held within the higher education sector. Leadership positions commonly found within higher education that align with the MA in Higher Education and Administration Leadership program include but are not limited to:

AVP/Director/Manager or Coordinator Positions in:

• Student Services and Affairs
• Residence Life
• Enrolment Services
• Marketing and Communication
• Registrar’s Office
• Finance

Or

• College or University Department Leads/Chairs
• Government Liaison/Project Management with Higher Education
• International Education Agency Directors/Managers