Leadership of teaching for student learning in higher education: what is needed?

Mainstream higher education research on leadership largely overlooks the leadership of teaching and learning. This paper presents a model of leadership that integrates various elements needed to create universities that intentionally promote holistic student learning and development. The model links organisational development, the development of leaders as people who are in relationship with other members of the community (transformative leadership), and knowledge of teaching and learning. Through a creative synthesis of these various literatures, it proposes what is needed for sound educational leadership in higher education. The paper highlights the content and context of leadership, emphasising not leadership or even leadership in higher education generally, but leadership of teaching (by explicitly including knowledge and evidence related to teaching and learning) for student learning.