Dr Romina Madrid

Snr Lecturer in Educational Leadership

Education Stirling

Dr Romina Madrid

Contact details

About me

I am a Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership at the University of Stirling, where I lead the MSc Educational Leadership as Programme Director. I also teach across the MSc Educational Leadership, MSc Professional Education and Leadership, and MSc Education programmes.

My research explores the role of educational leadership in fostering collaboration within, between, and beyond schools. I am particularly interested in how leadership preparation, teacher and headteacher professional learning, and research-practice partnerships can contribute to more equitable, sustainable, and connected education systems. Drawing on experience across Chile, the United States, Scotland, and the wider UK, my work seeks to bridge research, policy, and practice in ways that support meaningful educational improvement.

A central theme of my work is understanding how diverse forms of knowledge, expertise, and experience can be brought together to address complex educational challenges. I am especially committed to ensuring that the voices of those often underrepresented in educational change, including students, families, and early-career educators, are recognised and valued.

My doctoral research at the University of Minnesota examined family-school relationships, school choice, and educational inequality in Chile, interests that continue to inform my work on leadership, equity, and educational change.

My current projects include a tri-national study of system leadership involving colleagues in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, alongside research on rural leadership, educational equity, sustainability education, and networked learning systems. Together, these projects explore how collaboration can strengthen leadership capacity and create the conditions for lasting improvement across educational systems. I have a strong track record in leadership research, professional learning, and collaborative approaches to school and system improvement.

I am actively involved in the international research community as Co-convenor of the Crisis Response in Education Network (CREN) and the Policymakers, Politicians and Practitioners (3P) Network within the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI). I also co-convene Leadership in Scottish Education (LiSEN) through the Scottish Educational Research Association (SERA) and serve on the editorial board of School Effectiveness and School Improvement.

I enjoy working with our MSc students, doctoral and postgraduate researchers supporting them in developing their research identities, methodological expertise, and scholarly confidence. I welcome enquiries from prospective PhD students interested in educational leadership, professional learning and development, school improvement, research-practice partnerships, educational equity, sustainability education, and educational change.

educational leadership, professional learning, school improvement, collaboration, equity.

Research projects (1)

ACADEMIC RESEARCH – DATA SUPPORT FOR TRI NATIONS SYSTEM LEADERSHIP PROJECT
PI: Dr Romina Madrid
Funded by: Education Scotland
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Outputs (14)

Book Chapter

Acting Locally, Thinking Globally: An International Research–Practice Partnership for Youth Action

Chapman C, Madrid R, Duque C & Paez-Silva M (2025) Acting Locally, Thinking Globally: An International Research–Practice Partnership for Youth Action. In: Wyse D, Baumfield V, Mockler N & Reardon M (eds.) BERA-Sage Handbook of Research-Informed Education Practice and Policy. https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/the-bera-sage-handbook-of-research-informed-education-practice-and-policy/book282002

Book Chapter

Barriers For Effective Networking In Competitive EnvironmentsAddressing Distrust And Isolation To Promote Collaboration In The Chilean School System

Pino-Yancovic M, Gonzalez A & Madrid R (2022) Barriers For Effective Networking In Competitive EnvironmentsAddressing Distrust And Isolation To Promote Collaboration In The Chilean School System. In: Armstrong P & Brown C (eds.) School-to-School Collaboration: Learning Across International Contexts. Leeds: Emerald Publishing Limited, pp. 79-90. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80043-668-820221006

Research programmes

Research centres/groups