Introduction and Description

​​

In an era marked by rapid societal change, growing complexity, digital transformation and rising expectations for inclusive, high-quality education, schools can no longer operate as static institutions. Instead, they must evolve into dynamic, adaptive environments where teachers, leaders and learners continuously develop new knowledge, reflect on practice, and collaborate to improve outcomes. This course invites participants to explore the concept of the Learning Organization as a powerful and research-informed framework for guiding school transformation in the 21st century.

​

Grounded in influential theories of organisational learning, systems thinking and school improvement, the course examines how educational organisations can cultivate the cultural, structural and relational conditions that enable sustainable growth. Participants are introduced to the evolution of the Learning Organization concept—from early foundational theories to the most recent and comprehensive model proposed by the OECD. Through a critical yet practice-oriented lens, they will analyse the seven interconnected dimensions of the OECD School as a Learning Organization framework, appreciating how vision, leadership, inquiry, collaboration and system coherence together contribute to a school’s capacity to learn and innovate.

​

The course emphasises why becoming a Learning Organization is not a theoretical aspiration but a practical necessity for contemporary schools. As teachers face increasing diversity in student needs, heightened demands for wellbeing and inclusion, and the imperative to integrate digital and global competencies, organisational learning becomes essential for maintaining coherence, building collective teacher efficacy and ensuring that innovation translates into sustained improvement. The programme highlights the human dimension of this work—professional trust, psychological safety, shared responsibility, and collaborative professionalism—as the foundation for meaningful change.

 

Both programme versions—the 5-day introductory course and the 10-day extended course—support participants in developing actionable strategies for their institutional contexts. The 5-day programme provides a concise yet rigorous overview of theory, significance and implementation pathways, while the 10-day version offers a deeper exploration of systems thinking, organisational routines, international case studies, and practical tools for long-term change. In both formats, participants engage in structured reflection, collaborative workshops, and the design of a development plan aligned with Erasmus+ priorities, such as digital readiness, inclusive education, staff development, and strategic international collaboration.

 

By the end of the course, participants will not only understand what it means for a school to become a Learning Organization—they will also be equipped with the vision, conceptual clarity and practical tools to initiate and sustain such a transformation in their own institutions. This makes the course highly relevant for Erasmus+ project proposals and long-term institutional development, positioning schools to respond proactively and creatively to the demands of the present and the challenges of the future.