“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” —John F. Kennedy

The Art of Leadership (AOL) Seminar for Secondary School Principals began in earnest on the morning of Monday, 24^th February, 2014. The participants of the AOL seminar this year were principals and deputy principals from Catholic sponsored schools in Bungoma Diocese. Accompanying them was Fr. Faustine Wesonga, the diocesan education secretary. Together with the team from Bungoma, were principals and deputy principals drawn from Catholic sponsored schools in Nairobi. All were ready for the week of learning ahead.

 

As part of giving back to the educational sector and society, Strathmore University holds leadership training sessions for heads & deputies from high schools across Kenya, sometimes sponsored and other times the sponsor is the University. The Art of Leadership seminar is aimed at imparting managerial and leadership skills to school leaders, who in turn use these skills to transform their schools into centers of excellence. And what a great experience it is for them to learn how it is done here at Strathmore University.

 

The AOL seminar sessions cover different thematic areas with facilitators drawn from faculties and managerial levels of the University.

Highlights of the seminar over the five days cover different themes such as: Effective team leadership, educating the will; reclaiming our value system, financial management and procurement, maintaining human standards, work ethics, harmonizing school and home, the role of parents and leadership challenges facing the principals.

 

In between sessions, principals have the opportunity to interact and share their experiences. The principals were highly impressed by the high standards that Strathmore University has set and continues to uphold in the holistic training of students.

A notable comment from one principal was that striving to consistently improve oneself informed the decision to attend the seminar. The sessions thus far are a learning experience to be carried back and effected in the running of their schools.

The principals are grateful for the effort Strathmore University has put into teaching these basic managerial and leadership skills.

 

The AOL seminar is a weeklong seminar, with the last day being a certificate award ceremony before the principals depart.