The Centre for International Research into Leadership in Education (CIRLE) offers a source of cutting edge and contemporary research evidence through its engagement with scholars in education, and other disciplines, around the world. The Centre is linked to centres of excellence, globally, and its prime aim is to generate new knowledge, new ideas and new practices that focus upon leadership in education specifically and leadership in other disciplines, more broadly. The work of the international centre is research-based and research informed.

The Centre has strategic partnerships locally, nationally, and internationally. Its links with the Hume Centre in Switzerland is an example of the way in which the Centre is forging links with other centres of excellence, in this case, to develop new knowledge and to deliver programmes that focus on leading for equity in education.

The Centre has strong links nationally through its work with the National Academy for Educational Leadership and the Association for School and College Leaders Cymru. Such links ensure that its work is grounded in the contemporary realities that face leaders at all levels within the Welsh education system. 

The Centre is well connected internationally as it linked with a range of globally recognised scholars in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Scotland, Singapore, and the USA. The international presence of the Centre and its reach into research and policy circles, in many countries, ensures that its research work is of the highest quality and of contemporary relevance to all leaders whether in education or in other disciplines.

The research work of the Centre is inter-disciplinary, linking with the Cardiff Metropolitan University Global Academy for Health and Human Sciences to include the expertise of those working in the fields of business, sport, and health to inform its research and development work.