Education

Master of Education in Professional Leadership and Training

The Master of Education in Professional Leadership and Training is a specialised postgraduate programme that equips education professionals with advanced knowledge and skills in professional leadership, training design, and capacity development. The programme prepares graduates to lead professional development initiatives, design training programmes, and manage capacity building in educational institutions and organisations.

Core areas of study include professional leadership theory, training design and development, adult learning theory, organisational leadership, capacity building strategies, professional development programme design, training needs assessment, leadership coaching and mentoring, change management, team leadership, research methods, and thesis research. Students engage with both leadership theory and training practice.

The programme is offered by Moi University, Meru University of Science and Technology, and Karatina University, with Rongo University and Scott Christian University listed as colleges. The programme combines professional leadership development with training expertise, preparing graduates for roles that require both leadership and capacity building capabilities.

Students develop competencies in professional leadership, training design, adult education, capacity building, coaching and mentoring, change management, team leadership, programme evaluation, research methodology, and organisational development. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and a research thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years with full-time and part-time modes available. Coursework combines leadership theory with practical training design projects and capacity building exercises. The programme is designed for education managers, training officers, professional development coordinators, and organisational leaders seeking combined leadership and training expertise.

Graduates pursue careers as professional development leaders, training managers, capacity building officers, leadership coaches, organisational development consultants, education managers, and human resource development specialists in schools, universities, government, NGOs, and corporate training departments.

Skills Required

Professional Leadership Theory and Practice
Training Design and Development
Adult Learning Theory and Facilitation
Capacity Building and Development
Training Needs Assessment
Leadership Coaching and Mentoring
Change Management in Education
Professional Development Programme Design
Team Leadership and Group Facilitation
Research Methods in Education

Key Subjects

Professional Leadership Theory
Training Design and Development
Adult Learning Theory and Facilitation
Capacity Building Strategies
Training Needs Assessment
Leadership Coaching and Mentoring
Change Management in Education
Professional Development Programme Design
Research Methods in Education
Organisational Development

Certifications

KEMI Leadership Training Certification
ATD Professional Membership

Specializations

Professional Leadership

Focuses on professional leadership theory, leadership styles, leading professionals, ethical leadership, and developing leadership capacity in educational organisations.

Training Design and Development

Examines training design models, curriculum development for training, instructional design for adult learning, and developing effective training programmes.

Adult Learning and Facilitation

Covers adult learning theory, andragogy, facilitation skills, adult education methods, and designing learning experiences for adult professionals.

Capacity Building

Focuses on capacity building strategies, organisational capacity development, institutional strengthening, and building sustainable capacity in educational organisations.

Coaching and Mentoring

Examines leadership coaching, mentoring methods, professional coaching frameworks, and developing coaching and mentoring programmes for professional development.

Change Management

Covers change management theory, leading organisational change, implementing change in educational institutions, and managing resistance to change.

Organisational Development

Focuses on organisational development theory, organisational culture, organisational learning, and developing effective educational organisations.

Professional Development Programme Design

Examines designing professional development programmes, continuing professional development, teacher professional development, and evaluating training effectiveness.

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: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Professional Leadership Theory
Training Design and Development
Adult Learning Theory and Facilitation
Capacity Building Strategies
Training Needs Assessment
Leadership Coaching and Mentoring
Change Management in Education
Professional Development Programme Design
Research Methods in Education
Organisational Development

Modules

10 in the programme

Professional Leadership Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines professional leadership theory, leadership styles, leading professionals, ethical leadership, and developing leadership capacity in educational organisations.
Training Design and Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers training design models, curriculum development for training, instructional design for adult learning, and developing effective training programmes.
Adult Learning Theory and Facilitation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines adult learning theory, andragogy, facilitation skills, adult education methods, and designing learning experiences for adult professionals.
Training Needs Assessment
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers training needs assessment methods, organisational needs analysis, performance gap analysis, and identifying training and development needs.
Capacity Building Strategies
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines capacity building strategies, organisational capacity development, institutional strengthening, and building sustainable capacity in educational organisations.
Leadership Coaching and Mentoring
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers leadership coaching methods, mentoring frameworks, professional coaching skills, and developing coaching and mentoring programmes for professional development.
Change Management in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines change management theory, leading organisational change, implementing change in educational institutions, and managing resistance to change.
Professional Development Programme Design
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers designing professional development programmes, continuing professional development, teacher professional development, and evaluating training effectiveness.
Research Methods in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers qualitative and quantitative research methodologies for conducting original research in professional leadership and training, including research design and data analysis.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a professional leadership and training topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and leadership theory, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Professional Leadership
Focuses on professional leadership theory, leadership styles, leading professionals, ethical leadership, and developing leadership capacity in educational organisations.
Training Design and Development
Examines training design models, curriculum development for training, instructional design for adult learning, and developing effective training programmes.
Adult Learning and Facilitation
Covers adult learning theory, andragogy, facilitation skills, adult education methods, and designing learning experiences for adult professionals.
Capacity Building
Focuses on capacity building strategies, organisational capacity development, institutional strengthening, and building sustainable capacity in educational organisations.
Coaching and Mentoring
Examines leadership coaching, mentoring methods, professional coaching frameworks, and developing coaching and mentoring programmes for professional development.
Change Management
Covers change management theory, leading organisational change, implementing change in educational institutions, and managing resistance to change.
Organisational Development
Focuses on organisational development theory, organisational culture, organisational learning, and developing effective educational organisations.
Professional Development Programme Design
Examines designing professional development programmes, continuing professional development, teacher professional development, and evaluating training effectiveness.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on professional leadership theory, training design, or adult learning facilitation. Students engage in seminar discussions analysing leadership case studies, training programme designs, and capacity building challenges. Group projects involve designing training programmes, conducting training needs assessments, or developing professional development plans. Practical sessions include facilitation practice, coaching exercises, and designing capacity building interventions. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, with practical training in educational research methods. Guest lectures from KEMI trainers, corporate training managers, leadership coaches, and international development consultants provide real-world insights into professional leadership and training practice. Those in the thesis phase conduct independent research on leadership and training topics, working under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme combines leadership development with training expertise, addressing the growing demand for professional development and capacity building in education.
Programme includes practical training design, facilitation practice, and coaching exercises, providing hands-on professional development skills.
Graduates can pursue diverse careers in education management, training, capacity building, coaching, and organisational development.
Programme aligns with KEMI standards and international professional development standards through ATD and ILA.

Against it

Programme is offered at only three public universities, limiting geographic access for prospective students.
No private university offers this programme, limiting options for students preferring private institution environments.
Specialised nature combining leadership and training may limit career flexibility compared to broader MEd specialisations.
Programme may overlap with other MEd specialisations in educational management and administration, potentially causing confusion about distinct value.

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

Public187k to 187k

187k at Moi University187k 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 ~187K/yr (worldscholarshipforum). Karatina unverified. Kabarak 165K, AIU 191K/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. TSC may grant study leave with sponsorship for teachers pursuing postgraduate education. KEMI may sponsor education officers for leadership and training development. The programme's professional development focus attracts organisational development funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
TSC Study Leave Sponsorship
KEMI Training Sponsorship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
TSC Study Leave Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 157,750Kenyan
TSC-employed teachers may be granted study leave with sponsorship for postgraduate education in professional leadership and training.
KEMI Training Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
KEMI may sponsor education officers and managers for professional leadership and training development.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is available in full-time and part-time modes. The programme runs for two academic years. Designed for education managers, training officers, professional development coordinators, and organisational leaders seeking combined leadership and training expertise.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
CATs, training design exercises, leadership analysis essays, needs assessment projects, and seminar presentations conducted throughout each semester.
Practical Projects
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment involving training programme design, facilitation exercises, coaching practice, and capacity building intervention development.
Final Examination
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering leadership theory, training design, adult learning, and change management, including essay questions and case analysis.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a professional leadership and training topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and leadership theory, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Moi University, Meru University of Science and Technology, and Karatina University are all CUE-accredited public universities. The programme aligns with KEMI professional standards and ATD professional development standards.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Moi University, Meru University of Science and Technology, and Karatina University are all CUE-accredited public universities.
Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI)
Professional certification
KEMI is Kenya's educational management training institute. Graduates may pursue KEMI certification for professional recognition in educational leadership and training.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Professional Development Leader
High demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 350,000
Leads professional development initiatives in schools, universities, or educational organisations, designing and implementing professional development programmes for educators.
Training Manager
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages training programmes for educational institutions, government, or corporate organisations, overseeing training design, delivery, and evaluation.
Capacity Building Officer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 320,000
Develops and implements capacity building programmes for NGOs, government, or international organisations, strengthening institutional and individual capacity.
Leadership Coach
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides leadership coaching and mentoring to education leaders, school administrators, and professionals, supporting leadership development and growth.
Organisational Development Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 95,000 to Ksh 450,000
Consults on organisational development, change management, and capacity building for educational institutions, government, or NGOs.
Education Manager
High demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages educational programmes and institutions, applying leadership and training expertise to staff development, programme management, and institutional improvement.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as professional development leaders, training managers, capacity building officers, and leadership coaches in schools, universities, government, NGOs, and corporate training.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft PowerPoint
SoftwarePrimary
Presentation software widely used for training design, professional development workshops, and facilitation in educational and organisational settings.
SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for training evaluation research, needs assessment data analysis, and programme evaluation in professional development.
Google Workspace
Software
Productivity and collaboration tools supporting training programme management, professional development coordination, and team collaboration.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing interview data, focus groups, and qualitative research in leadership and training studies.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Professional leadership and training is just about running workshops.
The programme covers comprehensive leadership theory, training design, capacity building, coaching, change management, and organisational development, far beyond running workshops.
This programme is only for HR training officers.
Graduates work as education managers, professional development leaders, capacity building specialists, and organisational consultants across schools, universities, government, and NGOs.
Leadership cannot be taught; it is innate.
Research shows that leadership can be developed through structured learning, reflection, coaching, and practice, which the programme provides through evidence-based approaches.
Training is just presenting information to audiences.
Effective training involves needs assessment, instructional design, adult learning principles, facilitation skills, and evaluation, all covered comprehensively in the programme.
This programme has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Kenya's growing emphasis on professional development, capacity building, and organisational effectiveness creates demand for qualified leadership and training professionals.
Professional leadership and training is the same as educational management.
While related, this programme specifically focuses on professional development, training design, and capacity building, distinct from general educational management and administration.