After countless years of hard work, dedication, commitment, and research in the field of educational administration, Dr. Andrea Tejera Techera was appointed chair of the Board of Directors of RedAGE Uruguay in December 2023.
It is a nonprofit scientific association that promotes the improvement of educational management at the national level and currently consists of six founding institutions:
- Council for Educational Training, National Public Education Administration.
- Elbio Fernández Teacher Training Institute.
- Young Men's Christian Association University Institute.
- Ministry of Education and Culture.
- Catholic University of Uruguay.
- Institute of Education, Universidad ORT Uruguay.
In a conversation with the new president, Dr. Andrea Tejera Techera shared her perspective on the award, explained the goals to be achieved, and finally reflected on the current challenges in educational administration.
What does this distinction mean?
Taking on the presidency of RedAGE Uruguay is a great honor and, at the same time, a commitment to all the members of the association and the university team participating in the network.
It is important to remember that Universidad ORT Uruguay one of the founding organizations —along with the Autonomous University of Barcelona—of the international RedAGE network in 2008.
Along with other colleagues, I was part of that founding. I was also part of the original team at RedAGE Uruguay, which has a shorter history than the international organization but has been a legally recognized entity since 2018.
Therefore, taking on a role on the Executive Committee entails a commitment to carry forward the many efforts made by so many people over this period.
In today's Uruguayan context, the network has much to contribute to the pursuit of a higher quality of education.
What are the main objectives and goals you will be addressing during your presidency at RedAGE?
The elections were held in mid-December. The elected representatives met at the end of the year, and all four of us agreed to work as a team.
The network faces the challenge of developing best management practices in its operations. In addition, we are interested in bringing the network closer to local communities—that is, in being more closely connected to schools and their administrative teams.
Today, the association is still in its very early stages. One of its main goals is to promote its growth and invite various individuals and organizations to join.
What do you consider to be the most significant challenges currently facing educational administration in Uruguay?
If one approaches educational management from the perspective of transformational leadership, there will always be challenges. This is because transformational leadership is focused on change and participation, with the goal of ensuring that all students have access to a quality education and meaningful learning experiences.
At this point in time, I believe one of the main challenges is achieving effective management amid a paradigm shift. In other words, the structures and processes are not yet aligned with the model we aim to implement.
On the other hand, there are elements that were incorporated into the design but will undoubtedly require adjustments during implementation, both at the central level and at the level of each school. We hope that the analysis of these adjustments will lead to modifications in the model’s design.
In this context, ongoing professional development for all stakeholders in education becomes essential. I believe that, in our country, we are barely scratching the surface of this issue. We need to establish more permanent training systems based on a central approach—one that addresses the needs of the system as a whole—and a local approach—one that takes into account the needs of a school’s community and the projects designed by its members.
Addressing these challenges requires a collective effort, dedication, and a shared vision. RedAGE is well-positioned to commit to overcoming these and other challenges and to contribute to the development of quality education for all.