Når gamle mønstre smelter: Ledelse, Refleksion og Skolevægring i Grønland: En kvalitativ undersøgelse af opfattelser og tilgange til skolevægring på tværs af ledelsesniveauer i en grønlandsk kommune

When Old Patterns Melt: Leadership, Reflection, and School Refusal in Greenland: A qualitative study of perceptions and approaches to school refusal across leadership levels in a Greenlandic municipality

Olsen, Kirstine Amalie Kreutzmann

4. semester

Læring og Forandringsprocesser, Kandidat

2025

2025-06-02

80

ABSTRACT This thesis explores how school leaders and administrative managers in a specific municipality in Greenland understand and address school absenteeism. Employing a qualitative, reflexive approach, the study is based on semi-structured interviews and an abductive analytical strategy to investigate how actors perceive and respond to school refusal. This study draws on Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice, particularly the concepts of field, capital, and habitus, and adds Kurt Lewin’s theory of organizational change to strengthen the analytical framework. The inclusion of Lewin’s model enables a more comprehensive understanding of both structural constraints and possibilities for transformation in leadership practice. Findings show that leadership strategies are closely linked to each actor’s position within the organizational field and the types of capital they possess. Some leaders emphasize systemic structures and strategic control, while others focus on relational approaches and local adaptation. The results indicate a need for shared conceptual frameworks, flexible management tools, and cross-sectoral coordination in addressing school refusal. This thesis contributes context-sensitive insights into educational leadership in Greenland and offers concrete recommendations for reflective and adaptive practices that can strengthen schools’ inclusive capacity and promote organizational learning. Keywords: School refusal, educational leadership, organizational conditions, reflexive sociology, Bourdieu, Lewin, Greenland, inclusion, change

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