Educational leaders work in schools and with other forms of education in close connection to changes in society. Changes in values and policy influence the local school and their leaders in various ranges. In most countries schools and district want their work to rest on evidence based research and policy. This raise issues about what research questions and answers that mirrors current trends and will have short impact and effects and what research questions and answers will have sustainable impact? 

Educational administration research is quite young and has influences from several disciplines. Over time the discussed themes in educational administration journals and conferences have shifted. Some major themes have been: results and accountability, equity, gender, ethics and values, successful and effective school, school improvement and distributed leadership. Some of these themes have formed their own research networks while others are more general and influence more or less all researchers that work with educational administration.

This symposium reflects and discusses current and emerging trends in relation to changes in society with perspectives from Norway, Denmark, USA and Australia.