Leadership and management: key factors to implement educational innovations for promoting peace in Colombia

In the field of peace education, studies need to examine the critical role that leadership in educational innovation can play in managing conflicts and promoting a culture of nonviolence. This work contributes to the field by employing an educational innovation approach, allowing the analysis of leadership and management practices to foster a culture of peace. Specifically, it seeks to answer the question: How do leadership and management practices drive the development of educational innovations for peace? The study takes place in Colombia, a country currently in a transitional justice peace process but where local peacebuilding practices are often overlooked. The study draws on an analysis of 40 educational innovations for peace, ultimately selecting a subset characterized by matured development innovations (i.e. a longer trajectory) and sustained success over time. Among the most significant findings is the correlation between three forms of vision and two types of community influence, each connected to distinct management styles categorized in this study as leadership practices. This work holds relevance for those researching education for peace and those examining educational innovations in vulnerable contexts.