Work

Principals as STEM leaders: Insights from Qatar’s government schools using Q methodology research

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study aimed to explore the key dimensions of school principals’ science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) leadership capabilities in Qatari government schools. The study employed Q methodology research guided by a theoretical framework that identifies five critical dimensions of STEM leadership, namely STEM knowledge and practices, contexts, dispositions, tools and critical orientation. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 26 principals. Data collection was conducted between November 2024 and February 2025 from principals in government schools across Qatar. Ensuring diversity in terms of school level, experience, gender and geographic location. Data was collected through Q sorting activities, where participants rank-ordered a set of 40 statements representing STEM leadership capabilities, followed by post-sorting interviews to gather qualitative insights. Q factor analysis identified 3 viewpoints among participants, namely assessment innovation through collaborative learning, contextually grounded student-centered leadership, and resource-enabled STEM implementation. This study is limited to government schools in Qatar and reflects principals’ self-reported perspectives at one point in time. The study contributes to existing knowledge on effective STEM education leadership and provides valuable insights, with implications for future research, policy development and leadership preparation programs.

Source: Eurasia Journal of Mathematics Science and Technology Education

DOI: 10.29333/ejmste/16771

Authors: Mohammed Emad Osman Omer, Youmen Chaaban

Institutions: Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar University

Language: English

Topic: Education and Communication Studies

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Qatar University