Is it possible to empower leaders hip skills at university?

Abstract

The following study is focused on analyzing the importance of higher education and, specifically, teaching and learning methods, in the behavior of graduates at workplace in regards to three dimensions of leadership orientation: tasks, relationships, and change. For testing this hypothesis, we used structural equation modeling (SEM) with a sample of approximately 3,500 young graduates from Spanish universities, who were selected using the reflex database. Results indicate that the behavior of young professionals as leaders in the three sectors depends crucially on the competency level of individuals in certain key skills. They also point that skills related to leadership capacity are developed during undergraduate studies and, subsequently, extended through experience and work training. Additionally, this analysis identifies methods for teaching and learning with a greater influence on the development of leadership skills. The main implication of the study states that an appropriate educational environment during university can lead to acquiring the necessary skills for the exercise of leadership, which in turn, promotes further development of the same abilities in early work experiences, and increases the propensity of graduates to function effectively as leaders in the organizations they work for.