Academic Management: Training for Teachers Who Want to Lead
Classroom experience gets you to the door. IH Academic Management Courses are built for what comes next: online, for working professionals, designed for the transition into leadership.
Students
Schools
Qualifications
IH Diploma in Academic Management
The comprehensive qualification for experienced professionals in or moving into academic leadership.
Covers the full range of management competencies needed to run an academic department or school from staff development and quality assurance to budgeting and strategic planning.
IH Director of Studies
Focused on the specific challenges of the DoS role.
Managing teachers, maintaining academic standards, running professional development programmes, handling timetabling, and balancing the academic and business priorities of a language school.
Built for teachers who have just moved into the role or are about to.
IH Teacher Trainer Certificate
For experienced teachers who want to train other teachers.
Observation techniques, feedback frameworks, course design, and how to support trainees through initial qualifications and ongoing development.
The qualification you need if you want to deliver CELTA or other training programmes.
Management Skills Courses
IH Performance Management in Language Education
IH Managing Change in Language Education
IH Managing Customer Service in Language Education
IH Teams and Communication for Academic Managers
Who are these courses for?
Senior teachers preparing to move into their first management role
New Directors of Studies who want structured support from day one
Experienced managers looking to formalise or update their skills with a recognised qualification
Teachers who want to become teacher trainers
School owners or principals who want their leadership team professionally trained
How IH academic management courses are delivered
All IH academic management courses are delivered online through IH OTTI, the IH Online Teacher Training Institute. There are no compulsory live sessions.
Courses are asynchronous, which means you access materials, complete tasks, and participate in discussion forums at times that suit your schedule.
In some courses there are optional live meetups where you can connect with your tutor and classmates. Group sizes are typically between 8 and 12, which keeps discussion meaningful and feedback individual.
All courses issue a digital certificate on successful completion. The IH Diploma in Academic Management is a full qualification recognised across the IH network and the wider ELT profession.
Flexible Online Learning
Learning online gives you the flexibility to set your own study hours and save money on travel and accommodation.
You can ‘attend’ whenever (and wherever!) is convenient for you. On our courses the material for each module is made available at the start of each module (usually at the weekend) and it is up to you to access the material and complete the tasks. Therefore, there is some self-discipline required. The more you put into the course in terms of your time spent researching, completing tasks, and taking part in the discussion forums, the more you will get out of it. You will of course have support from other course participants and your tutors in online forums and through individual feedback.
Erasmus+ funding
IH is an approved Erasmus+ provider. Schools and organisations in eligible European countries can access funding to send staff on academic management courses.
Contact us for details.
Upcoming Professional Development Courses for Academic Managers
IH Diploma in Academic Management with IH OTTI
Academic Management
IH OTTI
Not specified
100% Online (Part-time)
Time not specified
OnlineIH Business Management in Language Education with IH OTTI
Academic Management
IH OTTI18 Jul 2026 - 29 Aug 2026100% Online (Part-time)6 weeks OnlineIH Performance Management in Language Education with IH OTTI
Academic Management
IH OTTI12 Sep 2026 - 24 Oct 2026100% Online (Part-time)6 weeks OnlineIH Director of Studies with IH OTTI
Academic Management
IH OTTI10 Oct 2026 - 12 Dec 2026100% Online (Part-time)9 weeks OnlineIH Teams and Communication for Academic Managers with IH OTTI
Academic Management
IH OTTI31 Oct 2026 - 12 Dec 2026100% Online (Part-time)6 weeks OnlineIH Observation and Giving Feedback in Language Teaching with IH OTTI
Academic Management
IH OTTI31 Oct 2026 - 12 Dec 2026100% Online (Part-time)6 weeks OnlineIH Young Learner Centre Management with IH OTTI
Academic Management
IH OTTIComing soonTBD TBDIH Managing Change in Language Education with IH OTTI
Academic Management
IH OTTIComing soonTBD TBDIH Managing Customer Service in Language Education with IH OTTI
Academic Management
IH OTTIComing soonTBD TBDReady to move into management?
Frequently Asked Questions
