Isabel Faria Alexandre

Isabel Faria Alexandre is a Researcher at the Research Centre for Human Development (CEDH) affiliated with Universidade Católica Portuguesa. With 29 years of experience in teaching and school administration, she has dedicated her career to understanding educational institutions' dynamics and improving how they serve students while balancing family life considerations.

Her educational journey includes a Master's degree in School Administration and Organisation, and she is currently completing her PhD with a thesis expected in March 2025. Dr. Alexandre's research focuses on Professional and Organisational Development, Collaborative Teacher Learning, Professional Learning Communities, Leadership for Learning, and Teacher Training.

Her primary research project, 'Why do schools (not) learn?' investigates factors that activate or hinder organizational learning in schools. She argues that understanding these dynamics is critical for addressing educational inequalities within centralized systems, as some schools demonstrate greater learning capacity than others despite similar contexts and resources.

Her work significantly contributes to Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education. The research demonstrates how organizational learning in schools can lead to better academic outcomes for students, professional growth for educators, and socioeconomic advancement for families.

• Organizational Learning (100%)
• Education System (66%)
• Central Administration (33%)
• Massification (33%)
• Organizational Development (33%)
• Professional Development (33%)

With her extensive practical experience combined with rigorous academic research, Dr. Alexandre bridges theory and practice to develop actionable insights for educational improvement. Her work emphasizes understanding each school's unique potential and intrinsic value in human development processes.