Upon having set up the Management Development Program in 2008 in order to bolster the management capacity of executives in charge of the institutions made available to public service, Sabanci Foundation put into effect “School Managers Development Program”, including a gender education module within its scope in 2010. In 2010-2011 academic year, the Program was implemented to the managers of those schools where teachers who participated in the Purple Certificate Program seminar work. The Purple Certificate Program is coordinated by Sabanci University within the framework of the “Joint Program to Promote and Protect Human Rights of Women and Girls”.

Organized by Sabanci University’s Executive Development Unit (EDU), School Managers Development Program aims to promote the management capacity of school managers, raising their awareness on the matters of social sensitivity and gender equality, and creating a sense of ownership in their institutions by promoting a stakeholder mindset. 188 selected school managers of 142 schools from the provinces of Izmir, Kars, Nevsehir, Sanliurfa, Trabzon and Van participated in the School Managers Development Program.

The Program also comprised field trips to educational institutions primarily in 6 provinces to mark down feedback with regard to expectations and suggestions, followed by training in the format of 2-day workshops and exchange of experience.

School Managers Development Program is built around the objective of enabling participating school managers to create a project team and formulate business development projects at their schools on the subjects of management, leadership and project management, thus transforming a school activity into a project.

Participant View

I have been an educator for 23 years. ‘I have nothing left to learn, I already know it all’ type of attitude is a solid proof of a person’s end. On January 4^th-5^th, and on February 3^rd, 2011, I attended the School Managers Development Program seminar held in Nevsehir. I deem these seminars highly positive and fruitful. We learn the scientific framework underlying our practice.

Unfortunately we have a lot of shortcomings when it comes to projects. The School Managers Development Program seminar came in very handy at a time when we have come across EU projects through the National Agency in recent years. That’s because a project is normally associated with construction, architecture, machinery and electricity and is perceived to be a demanding and complex process.

Today, the National Agency is having a hard time selecting projects. There are numerous project applications. I believe that the trainings by the National Agency, the Ministry of Education, and the presentations and seminars offered by institutions like the Sabanci Foundation play a major role there. TOKI Technical and Vocational High School for Girls (Nevsehir), Dogan Kurekli - School Administrator