Student-Centered Learning and Student Leadership Behavior

Abstract

: The globalized, networked, and rapidly changing society is seeing the need of leadership talent from young people. That leadership is an inborn characteristic is already facet and has been replaced with a belief that anyone can learn and develop their capacity to lead. Higher education institutions (HEIs) across the globe, knowing the importance of leadership competencies, have made it part of their educational mission to develop students’ leadership (Zafar et al., 2020). The importance of college student leadership has long been recognized. American research has established that student leadership in college can enhance national core values in terms of civic responsibility and community participation of young students (Zimmerman-Oster and Burkhardt, 2007; Wagner, 2009). Chinese studies on student leadership are showing positive results as well. A study in several Shanghai universities has shown that student leadership education can improve students' values and develop their socialist core values (Weng, 2013; Xi, 2012; Zhang and Chen, 2015). The need for developing student leaders in HEIs is mirrored in the report of the Possibilists (2021), a global network of young social innovators. The study which involved their sixteen (16) networks around the world showed the problems of youth leaders. Some of these are juggling leadership responsibilities, work, and studies; lack of institutional supports, doubting their abilities, and lack of finances. The need to enhance, support and develop youth leaders is considered pressing because 1.2 billion people are 15-24 years old