The effectiveness of student leadership training programs in public universities of Malaysia

Most student affairs administrators in Malaysian public universities offer leadership training programs designed to help increase and enhance leadership knowledge, leadership skills, and leadership performance-related attitudes. In conducting these programs, student affairs administrators use leadership training modules designed by business-oriented foreign writers as a primary source of instruction. These modules arguably lack serious intent, local context, and a theoretical base. Additionally, the leadership training programs are frequently conducted in a male-dominated environment; hence, they are arguably unsuitable for female participants.; The purpose of this study was two-fold: (a) to explore the effectiveness of existing leadership training programs in public universities of Malaysia, and (b) to develop a model for a leadership training program for student leaders in public universities of Malaysia. The effectiveness of existing leadership training programs was determined based on whether or not student leaders believed the training programs helped increase and enhance their (a) understanding of leadership knowledge, (b) leadership skills, and (c) leadership performance-related attitudes. Leadership training effectiveness was further assessed by whether or not student leaders indicated they used the knowledge and skills in performing their duties. The effectiveness of the training programs was evaluated using a survey instrument and focus group interviews. Two hundred twenty-three resident assistants from four universities returned the survey instrument and six to eight participants from each participating university participated in the focus group interviews.; Findings revealed that the majority of male and female participants believed that their participation in the leadership training programs increased and enhanced their understanding of leadership knowledge, leadership skills, and leadership performance-related attitudes. There was no significant difference between male and female participants' relative agreement with regard to the leadership training program increasing and enhancing their leadership knowledge, leadership skills, and leadership performance-related attitudes. Findings also showed that the majority of male and female participants applied the leadership knowledge and skills gained from the training programs in their work settings.