“Whether we like it or not, changes happen, they seep in, they’re here. The key is to guide them,” said Rosana Sampedro, M.A.
In an era of constant technological advancements, management plays a crucial role. As he explained, management involves developing a plan that fosters innovation capable of being integrated into an organization.
However, how does one navigate such complexity? The professor in the Master’s Program in Educational Management at the Institute of Education of Universidad ORT Uruguay the National University of San Martín emphasized that “there is no one-size-fits-all solution”: “Just because I do A and manage things in a certain way doesn’t mean I’ll get B. I might end up with something else.”
In any case, he explained that for things to start taking shape, various initiatives need to be carried out: “Everyone needs to understand that, even if a specific action doesn’t materialize, other opportunities may arise. That’s why it’s important to be able to recognize what’s emerging.”
In schools, innovative initiatives often emerge that transform the way we teach. Sampedro explained that new projects should not be viewed as “fleeting phenomena.” It is necessary to analyze which innovative initiatives can be implemented, how to institutionalize them, and what improvements can be made.
“There’s nothing clearer or more effective than a good theory for understanding what’s happening,” he added.
In his view, it is essential that schools become “more open”: that they manage and plan based on innovation.
“We need to move beyond planning as an intention and toward planning as action,” he concluded.
Strategic Planning in Educational Management
Sampedro visited Universidad ORT Uruguay July 2018 to teach the course “Strategic Planning in Educational Management” as part of the first semester of the Master’s in Educational Management program. He also returned in November 2018 to teach the same course to the cohort enrolled in the Diploma in Educational Planning and Management, a program implemented in partnership with Plan Ceibal and the Global Learning Network.
Throughout the course, they worked with the students to analyze various planning models in relation to educational quality, innovation, and the management of educational organizations.