Education

Master of Education (Executive) in Leadership & Policy Studies

The Master of Education (Executive) in Leadership and Policy Studies is a specialised postgraduate programme designed for serving education professionals seeking advanced leadership and policy skills. The programme targets principals, deputy principals, heads of department, education officers, and NGO officials involved in education.

Core areas include educational leadership theory, education policy analysis, strategic management in education, organisational behaviour, governance in education, educational research methods, and thesis or project research. Students engage with leadership theory applied specifically to educational institutions and policy contexts.

The programme is offered by Moi University through its School of Education at multiple campuses including Kericho, Kitale, and Coast Campus. University of Kabianga and Rongo University also offer related executive programmes. All are public universities offering the programme through school-based and part-time modes to accommodate working professionals.

Students develop competencies in educational leadership, policy formulation and analysis, strategic planning, institutional governance, change management, conflict resolution, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and thesis or project research.

Moi University charges approximately KES 187,200 per year based on its general postgraduate fee structure. Entry requires a Bachelor of Education degree and at least five years of teaching or education leadership experience, with applicants typically serving in leadership positions.

Graduates pursue careers as school principals, education officers, policy analysts, institutional administrators, education consultants, and NGO education programme managers.

Skills Required

Educational Leadership Theory
Education Policy Analysis
Strategic Management in Education
Organisational Behaviour and Change Management
Institutional Governance
Conflict Resolution in Education
Educational Research Methods
Education Programme Management
Quality Assurance in Education
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Educational Leadership Theory
Education Policy Analysis
Strategic Management in Education
Organisational Behaviour
Governance in Education
Change Management in Education
Conflict Resolution in Education
Educational Research Methods
Quality Assurance in Education
Thesis Research

Certifications

TSC Institutional Administrator Registration
KEMI Education Management Certification

Specializations

Educational Leadership

Focuses on leadership theory, styles, and practice in educational institutions, examining effective leadership for schools and education systems.

Education Policy Studies

Examines education policy formulation, implementation, analysis, and evaluating policy impact on educational institutions and systems.

Strategic Management in Education

Covers strategic planning, management, and applying strategic management principles to educational institutions and systems.

Governance in Education

Focuses on governance structures, accountability, and institutional governance in educational organisations and systems.

Change Management in Education

Examines managing change in educational institutions, overseeing reform implementation, and supporting organisational transformation.

Education Quality Assurance

Covers quality assurance methods, standards, and ensuring and improving quality in educational institutions and programmes.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 187,200
Private, up to: Ksh 191,050
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Part-time, School-based
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Educational Leadership Theory
Education Policy Analysis
Strategic Management in Education
Organisational Behaviour
Governance in Education
Change Management in Education
Conflict Resolution in Education
Educational Research Methods
Quality Assurance in Education
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Educational Leadership Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines leadership theories, styles, and their application to leading educational institutions and education systems.
Education Policy Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers education policy formulation, implementation, evaluation, and analysing policy impact on educational institutions and systems.
Strategic Management in Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines strategic planning, resource allocation, and applying strategic management principles to educational institutions.
Educational Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting educational research, preparing students for their thesis.
Organisational Behaviour in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines organisational behaviour, culture, and dynamics in educational institutions and their impact on performance.
Governance in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers governance structures, accountability mechanisms, board management, and institutional governance in educational organisations.
Change Management in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines managing institutional change, implementing education reforms, and supporting organisational transformation in schools.
Conflict Resolution in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers managing conflicts in educational settings, negotiation skills, mediation, and building collaborative teams.
Quality Assurance in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines quality assurance methods, standards, accreditation, and ensuring and improving quality in educational institutions.
Education Law and Ethics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers legal frameworks governing education in Kenya, educational rights, and ethical issues in educational leadership.
Research Seminar
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparation of research proposal, including research design, literature review, methodology, and proposal presentation for thesis development.
Research Thesis or Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis or applied project on an educational leadership or policy topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Educational Leadership
Focuses on leadership theory, styles, and practice in educational institutions, examining effective leadership for schools and education systems.
Education Policy Studies
Examines education policy formulation, implementation, analysis, and evaluating policy impact on educational institutions and systems.
Strategic Management in Education
Covers strategic planning, management, and applying strategic management principles to educational institutions and systems.
Governance in Education
Focuses on governance structures, accountability, and institutional governance in educational organisations and systems.
Change Management in Education
Examines managing change in educational institutions, overseeing reform implementation, and supporting organisational transformation.
Education Quality Assurance
Covers quality assurance methods, standards, and ensuring and improving quality in educational institutions and programmes.

A day as a student

A typical day during the Executive M.Ed. (Leadership and Policy Studies) programme combines intensive lectures, case studies, seminars, and group discussions, typically delivered through school-based or weekend modes. Sessions cover educational leadership, policy analysis, strategic management, and governance. Educational leadership sessions examine leadership theories, styles, and their application to leading educational institutions. Policy analysis sessions cover education policy formulation, implementation, evaluation, and analysing policy impact on schools and systems. Strategic management sessions examine strategic planning, resource allocation, and applying strategic management principles to educational institutions. Governance sessions cover governance structures, accountability mechanisms, and institutional governance in education. Change management sessions examine managing institutional change, implementing reforms, and supporting organisational transformation. Conflict resolution sessions cover managing conflicts in educational settings, negotiation, and building collaborative teams. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis or project, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Case studies of leadership challenges in Kenyan schools and education institutions provide practical application of theory. Group discussions and peer learning leverage the extensive experience of cohort members, who are serving education professionals. Guest lectures from experienced principals, education officers, and policy makers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis or project on an educational leadership or policy topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme is specifically designed for serving education professionals, leveraging their experience through peer learning and practical application.
School-based delivery mode accommodates working professionals, allowing them to study during school holidays without leaving their positions.
Offered by multiple public universities across different campuses, providing geographic accessibility.
Graduates are well-positioned for senior education leadership roles including principalship, education officer, and policy positions.

Against it

Requires at least five years of teaching or education leadership experience, limiting eligibility to experienced professionals only.
Fee data for University of Kabianga and Rongo University could not be independently verified, making cost comparison difficult.
Intensive school-based delivery requires significant time commitment during holiday periods, limiting personal time.
Programme focus on leadership and policy may be less relevant for educators seeking subject-specific or pedagogical specialisations.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public94k to 187k

94k at The Open University of Kenya187k at Moi University

Private165k to 191k

165k at Kabarak University191k at Africa International University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Moi ~187,200/yr. OUK 93,750/yr. Kabarak 82,600/sem, AIU 95,525/sem (official)

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. TSC supports professional development for serving teachers and education leaders. KEMI may provide management training support for education institutional leaders. Executive programmes may attract employer sponsorship from schools and education institutions.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
TSC Teacher Professional Development
KEMI Management Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate education studies at recognised universities.
TSC Teacher Professional Development
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Teachers Service Commission supports professional development for registered teachers and education leaders pursuing postgraduate leadership qualifications.
KEMI Management Training Support
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
Kenya Education Management Institute supports management training for education institutional leaders pursuing postgraduate qualifications.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Applicants must be serving as Principal, Deputy Principal, Head of Department of schools, colleges, or institutions of education, or NGO officials involved in education, education officers, or practitioners with at least 5 years teaching experience. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case study analysis, seminar presentations, and class participation during intensive sessions.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering educational leadership, policy analysis, strategic management, and governance in education.
Case Study and Practical Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through case studies of leadership challenges, policy analysis exercises, and applying theory to real institutional scenarios.
Research Thesis or Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis or applied project on an educational leadership or policy topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Moi University offers Executive M.Ed. in Leadership and Policy through its School of Education, University of Kabianga through its School of Education and Social Sciences, and Rongo University through its main campus. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate education leadership and policy training. Graduates are eligible for TSC registration and KEMI certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Moi University offers Executive M.Ed. in Leadership and Policy through its School of Education, University of Kabianga through its School of Education and Social Sciences, and Rongo University through its main campus. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate education leadership and policy training. Graduates are eligible for TSC registration and KEMI certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

School Principal
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Leads and manages school operations, overseeing academic performance, staff management, student welfare, and institutional development.
Education Officer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000
Oversees education quality and standards at county or sub-county level, monitoring schools, supporting teachers, and implementing education policy.
Policy Analyst
Low demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Analyses education policy, overseeing research, analysis, policy development, and providing policy advice to government and organisations.
Institutional Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Administers educational institutions, overseeing operations, strategic planning, resource management, and ensuring effective institutional performance.
Education Consultant
Low demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Consults on education leadership and policy matters, providing advisory services, analysis, and strategy for education institutions and organisations.
NGO Education Programme Manager
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages education programmes for NGOs, overseeing programme design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and stakeholder engagement.

Graduate outcomes