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Principals qualification 'must cover ethical issues'

A new qualification for college principals must cover ethical issues such as corporate fairness and transparency as well as other leadership skills, trainers have been told.

Lifelong Learning UK, the Sector Skills Council for the lifelong learning sector, says the work it has undertaken so far shows widespread support for draft specifications that will form the basis of the qualification. These cover areas such as leading teaching and learning; recruiting and developing staff; and managing operations and resources.

But principals and other stakeholders who took part in the three-month consultation process also stated the importance of colleges being run along ethical lines.

Monica Deasy, director of standards, qualifications and research at LLUK, said: "Principals face many challenges in leading what are highly complex businesses. But it must not be forgotten that they play public leadership roles.

"They must be seen to uphold the very highest ethical standards and reflect the values and principles required of the profession in which they are leaders."

LLUK says the qualification is to be designed and offered to further education college principals by the Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL).

Further discussions are due to take place this autumn over the final specifications. According to LLUK, the specifications are also designed to be used by colleges for recruiting principals and as benchmarks for continuing professional development. It is envisaged that they will also become a tool for prospective principals to decide whether they are ready to apply for the highest management position in their institution.

"They are designed to reflect the areas in which principals and chief executives must be skilled in order to manage their organisations effectively and inspire the people working around them," said Monica Deasy.

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