Work-related values of public education leaders in Southern Plain region

Abstract

Although traditionally rooted in the social sciences, value research is increasingly recognized as a vital area within the field of education. This study explores selected aspects of the value orientations of professionals who are either preparing for or currently holding leadership positions in the teaching profession. The empirical foundation of the study is based on a questionnaire survey conducted among students enrolled in the public education leadership training program at the Orosháza campus of Kodolányi János University, complemented by qualitative insights from follow-up interviews. The findings offer a more nuanced picture of how values manifest not only in pedagogical processes but also in the social dynamics of the public education system. In addition, the study sheds light on the career awareness and professional preparedness of educational leaders in Hungary’s Southern Great Plain region.