| Abstract [eng] |
Inclusive education is based on the recognition of the individual needs of each student and the opportunity for everyone to participate in the educational process on an equal footing. To successfully implement inclusion, innovations are necessary - both in the content of education, in the methodology and in the principles of organizing education. Educational innovations operate by modernizing the education system and introducing new technologies, including the development of new ideas, teaching methods and principles. The ability of leaders of educational organizations to understand the importance of inclusion, to promote creativity and cooperation between educators and the community, will determines the success and sustainability of innovations. Therefore, when analyzing the development of inclusive education, it is important to evaluate not only theoretical principles, but also the practical dimension - how innovations are implemented and managed in educational organizations and what role their leaders play in this process. The aim of the study is to reveal the experience of school leaders in managing innovations in inclusive education. The work consists of three chapters. The first chapter presents an analysis of scientific literature. The concept and principles of inclusion, the diversity of inclusion groups and the possibilities of ensuring inclusion in education, the concept and types of innovations, management models, trends and possibilities of educational innovation management are analyzed. The second chapter presents the research methodology. The qualitative research methodology was applied to this study. The data collection method used is a semi-structured interview. The method of research data analysis is inductive qualitative content analysis. The third chapter presents a study of school leaders' experiences in managing inclusive education innovations. 15 heads of Lithuanian public schools participated in the study. The results of the study are useful for both the heads of educational organization seeking more effective solutions for managing inclusive education innovations, and for policy makers in educational sector seeking to strengthen the managerial potential in the education sector. The study creates prerequisites for new scientific research on the topic of inclusive education innovation management. Keywords: inclusion, inclusive education, innovation, management of educational organizations. |
