Reframing school leadership for the digital age

Janet Cochrane; Seng Chee Tan; Michael Phillips; Birgit Eickelmann; Marijke Kral; Jacob Chammon; Shesha Kanta Pangeni

doi:10.1016/j.caeo.2026.100404

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Reframing school leadership for the digital age

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Reframing school leadership for the digital age

Janet Cochrane, Seng Chee Tan, Michael Phillips, Birgit Eickelmann, Marijke Kral, Jacob Chammon and Shesha Kanta Pangeni

Computers & Education Open, Vol.11, pp.1-9

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeo.2026.100404

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Abstract

Sociology of education

Technology integration

Transformative leadership

Digital leadership

Inclusive

Cultural transformation

The role of school leadership in digital transformation is increasingly recognised as central to creating inclusive, adaptive, and future-proof schools and education systems. However, the complexity of this task is often underestimated in policy, research, practice, and professional development. This article explores school leaders’ roles as key agents in co-designing inclusive and adaptive digital learning cultures within diverse sociocultural, technological, and educational contexts. Building on contributions from Thematic Working Group 2 (TWG2) at EDUsummIT 2025, this paper introduces a leadership framework comprising six inter-related parts: transformative and strategic leadership; capacity building; equity and inclusivity; policy and governance; leading change; and future-proofing. This framework reflects the evolving demands placed on leaders in digitally enhanced, constantly changing educational environments. Contributions include reflections on theoretical approaches, empirical studies, conceptual analyses, policy-focused pieces, and international cases. Together, they provide a synthesis of current challenges and innovative responses to leadership in the digital age, with a focus on practical tools, inclusive and adaptive strategies, and contextual variations in reframing schooling for the digital age.

Details

Title: Reframing school leadership for the digital age
Authors: Janet Cochrane (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Seng Chee Tan (Corresponding Author) - Nanyang Technological University
Michael Phillips (Author) - Monash University
Birgit Eickelmann (Author) - Paderborn University
Marijke Kral (Author) - HAN University of Applied Sciences
Jacob Chammon (Author) - Deutsche Telekom (Germany)
Shesha Kanta Pangeni (Author) - Kathmandu University
Publication details: Computers & Education Open, Vol.11, pp.1-9
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.caeo.2026.100404
ISSN: 2666-5573
Organisation Unit: School of Education and Tertiary Access
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991246399102621
Output Type: Journal article

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