Networking Opportunities, Digital Proficiency, Data-Driven Decision Making as Catalysts for School Leaders' Research Capability

This study looks at how networking opportunities, digital skills, and using data to make decisions helpschool leaders improve their research abilities in the Department of Education, Division of Valencia City,Bukidnon. School leaders play an important role in improving teaching and bringing new ideas to schools.We collected information through surveys asking school leaders about their use of digital tools, involvementin professional networks, and how they use data in their work. The results show that being active innetworking helps school leaders share knowledge, support each other, and learn continuously, which booststheir research skills. Having good digital skills, especially in adopting new technology, helps leaders usedigital tools to bring innovation to education. Using data to guide decisions works best when leaders haveboth strong technical skills and good professional connections. This study highlights how these three thingswork together to help school leaders become better researchers and problem solvers. Based on thesefindings, we suggest creating training programs that build digital skills and encourage networking at thesame time. These programs will help school leaders lead more effectively, use evidence to improve schools,and ultimately help students do better. We recommend that education leaders focus on these areas to supportstrong, research-ready leadership in Valencia City Division.