Exploring the Leadership Skills of Pre-Service Social Work Students: Implications for Social Work Education

Abstract

The importance of leadership is discussed widely in the social work literature. However, little is known about the leadership skills of social work students and factors affecting their development in the environment specific to higher educational institutions (HEIs). This research aimed to find out what skills pre-service social work students had related to leadership and to determine if significant differences existed in terms of such predictor variables as level and form of study, employment status, and involvement in co-curricular activities. The research employed the quantitative approach based on a descriptive cross-sectional survey involving a sample of 158 social work students from three Ukrainian universities. The research group consisted of 88% female and 12% male respondents, aged between 19 and 31. Data were obtained through the Student Leadership Outcomes Inventory, which contained 60 items measuring skills on 8 scales: (a) self-management, (b) interpersonal communication, (c) problem-solving and decision-making, (e) cognitive development and critical analysis, (f) organization and planning, (g) self-confidence, (h) diversity awareness, and (h) technology which served as outcome variables. All items were rated along a 5-point Likert scale, from poor (1) to excellent (5). The results of the research revealed lower than average levels of leadership skills and existing significant differences by outcome variables for the sample population. The findings suggest the need to strengthen the leadership skills of social work students through the implementation of formal and informal developmental activities and recognition of leadership participation within the social work curriculum. Keywords: descriptive cross-sectional survey, leadership development, leadership skills, pre-service social work students, social work.

Соціально-Педагогічні Методи Розвитку Лідерських Якостей Майбутніх Соціальних Працівників

“…Варто зазначити, що затверджені стандарти не передбачають формування лідерської компетентності, хоча там згадуються деякі її складові, такі як міжособистісні навички, критичне мислення, вирішення проблем, самоуправління та організаційне управління (Horishna, 2019).…”

Leadership skills and completed fertility among males: a study based on data from Swedish registries

“…With specific regards to LS, literature suggests that there are differences according to educational level. For instance, Horishna et al (2019) show that social work graduates score higher on LS than under-graduates from the same field do. However, it remains unknown whether this correlation is based on education or potential age effects.…”

“…However, it remains unknown whether this correlation is based on education or potential age effects. Furthermore, full-time students reveal higher LS scores than part-time students (Horishna et al, 2019). These analyses are based on cross-sectional data and, therefore, it remains unclear whether these associations can be considered to be causal and if so, in which direction.…”

Diagnostics of Leadership Qualities of Specialists of "Man–Man" Type of Professions in Military and Civil Higher Education Institutions: Psychological and Pedagogical Approach

“…It has been found out that for specialists of military specialties and "civilian" the interpretation of the concept of leadership is almost the same. It was found that the leader must have "the effect of attraction", that is, have a pronounced ability to communicate, establish interpersonal contacts, be able to lead people (Horishna, Slozanska, Soroka, Romanovska, 2019). At the same time, the problem of diagnostics of leadership qualities of future specialists of professions such as "man-man" has been studied insufficiently.…”