Profile, Leadership Orientation and Skills of Student-Organization Presidents of Isabela State University: Input for an Enhanced Student Leadership Program

Authors

  • Roselle M. Beltran

Abstract

This study was an investigation on the link between and among personal and socio-economic profile of the student-organization presidents of the Isabela State University with their leadership skills and leadership orientation. Specifically, the study determined the leadership orientation and leadership skills of the student-organization presidents as assessed by themselves, their organization advisers, and other officers. The study tested four hypothesis. First, if there is no difference in the assessment on the leadership orientations and leadership skills of the presidents of student organizations as assessed by themselves, their organization advisers, and other officers. Second, if there is no difference in the leadership orientations as well as the leadership skills of the presidents of student organizations when grouped according to their select profile variables. Third, if there is no relationship between the leadership orientations as well as the leadership skills of the presidents of student organizations and their select profile variables and fourth, if there is no relationship between the leadership orientations of presidents of student organizations and the following variables: (a) leadership skills, (b) enablers of student leadership development in the university, and (c) barriers to student leadership development.The study was conducted among the student leaders and organization advisers of the Isabela State University composed of the Supreme Student Council (SSC), Student Body Organization (SBO) and Societies/club officers of the ten (10) campuses. A total of six hundred fifty three (653) served as respondents of the study composed of ninety three (93) student-organization presidents, ninety five (95) organization advisers and four hundred sixty five (465) other student organization officers.In this research, standardized questionnaires were used in determining the personal and socio-economic profile, leadership skill and leadership orientation of the student-organization presidents. The questionnaire is composed of three parts: Part I determined the personal and socio-economic profile of the ISU student-organization presidents, Part II figured out the leadership orientation of the respondents using the Bolman and Deal’s Leadership Orientation Questionnaire and Part III determined the leadership skills of the student-organization presidents using the standard questionnaire utilized by Sage Company Publication (2009)For the analysis of quantitative data, descriptive statistics was used. Specifically, frequency count, percentage and mean were used to analyze the personal and socio-economic profile of the student-organization presidents, their leadership orientation and leadership skills as well as the enablers and barriers to student leadership in Isabela State University.To measure the significant difference in the leadership orientation and leadership skills of the student leaders when grouped according to their personal and socio-economic profile, one way ANOVA was used. For the test of difference, levels or categories of some variables were regrouped to obtain considerable number of cases per group. For the test of comparison, t-test for independent groups was used for dichotomously grouped variables; the analysis of variance was used for variables with more than two groups. On the other hand, Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to test the correlational hypotheses of the study and were tested at 0.05 level of significance.After careful interpretation and analysis of the data, the study revealed that the student-organization presidents have “high” (4.19) level of leadership orientation putting very high rating along human resource leadership dimension. On the other hand, the student-organization presidents have “high” leadership skill (4.18) with interpersonal skills registering the highest mean (4.22). The top three enablers of student leadership development in Isabela State University are (a) availability of funds for student organizations; (b) provision of opportunities for students to voice out their views and opinions; and (c) support and utilization of student organization partnerships between schools, community and other agencies. Meanwhile, the top three barriers of student leadership development in Isabela State University are (a) bureaucratic communication flow; (b) lack of adequate facilities and equipment for student organizations; and (c) impression that student leaders lack decision-making capability.Test of difference reveals that the leadership orientation of student-organization presidents differs based on the perception of the student-organization presidents themselves, their advisers, and other officers. Specifically, the other officers rated the leadership orientation of the student-organization presidents higher than the student advisers and student-organization presidents themselves. Thus, the null hypothesis of the study is rejected. On the other hand, there is no difference in the assessment of the leadership skills of student organization presidents as perceived by the student-organization presidents themselves, their advisers and other officers. Thus, the null hypothesis of the study is accepted. It was also found out that the leadership orientation of the student-organization presidents varies in terms of campus assignments but not for other select personal and socio-economic variables of their parents. Moreover, the leadership skills of the student organization presidents do not vary based on select and socio-economic variables of their parents. Thus, the null hypothesis of the study is accepted. Test of relationship shows that the only variable that was found related to leadership orientation and leadership skills of the student-organization presidents is father’s educational attainment. All other select personal profile and socio-economic variables of their parents are not correlated with their leadership orientation. The leadership skills and the enablers of student organization development are positively correlated to the leadership orientation of the student-organization presidents. Student-organization presidents with higher leadership orientation tend to have higher leadership skills. On the other hand, student-organization presidents with higher leadership orientation brings higher enablers of student leadership development in the university. Based on the findings of the study, the student-organization presidents of Isabela State University have favorable leadership outlook and interest as well as high ability to perform their duties and responsibilities in their respective organizations. They show high importance on people in their leadership orientation and very high relationship with people in their leadership skill. Thus, they put primacy on human relations expressed in collaborating and empowering people rather than being rational and goal oriented. The leadership orientation and leadership skills of the student-organization presidents is influenced, to a great extent, by their father’s educational attainment. In short, leadership orientation and leadership skills of student-organization presidents is positively correlated with their fathers’ education. Similarly, there is a positive correlation between leadership orientation with leadership skills as well as enablers of student organization development in the university.On the basis of the aforementioned findings and conclusions, the following recommendations are presented:The results of the study should be submitted to the university, campus and college officials for discussion during their meetings. This will provide valuable feedback on the leadership orientation and leadership skills of student- organization presidents and will serve as an input in enhancing the Student Leadership Program of the University.The student-organization presidents must sustain their high leadership orientation and leadership skills as these are essential in ensuring the realization of the goals and objectives of their own respective organizations. This can be realized by sustaining the different programs, projects and activities provided to the student leaders of the university. While the overall rating of the student-organization presidents on leadership orientation is high, there is still a need to further improve the leadership orientation in some campuses.The university and campus levels through the Office of Student Affairs and Services must address the barriers in student organization development in the university. Specifically, it must (a) reduce the bureaucratic communication flow in student affairs by following the Anti-Red Tape Act which is prescribed by the Civil Service Commission; (b) provide adequate facilities and equipment for student organizations such as offices, tables, computers, printers, display boards, and other supplies needed in student affairs operations; and (c) make the university and campus officials as well as faculty and personnel become more trusting, respectful and empowering to student leaders especially along decision making. The Office of Student Affairs and Services may include in their leadership program for the student leaders the emphasis on the enhancement of their conceptual leadership skills in their trainings/seminars as this greatly affects their planning and decision-making for their organization. This shows a solid evidence that the student-organization presidents can render sound decision making despite and in spite of their age, socio-economic status and related profiles.

Keywords:leadership orientation, leadership skills, profile, student development program.

Downloads

Published

2020-05-18

Issue

Section

Articles