Advancing Leadership Development among Management Students in Chinese Higher Education: The Framework of Support Systems during Stakeholder Engagement
Year: 2025
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This study explores the much-needed development of student leadership in Chinese institutions of higher education, using P University as an example. Drawing on Bush's educational leadership theory, transformational leadership theory and stakeholder theory, this research paper applies them to the case study of P University to explore how different participants in the Chinese higher education ecosystem play a role in the development of student leadership. The study aims to bridge the existing gap between theory and practice to provide systematic insights into how to strengthen leadership education in China.This study is based on a review of relevant research, which was in-depth and involved interviews and group discussions with students, teachers, university leaders, parents and government officials, whenever relevant information was provided. Using NVivo for thematic analysis, this paper identified four main themes that influence student leadership development: coordinated leadership development, curriculum and teaching methods, stakeholder influence and integrated coordinated leadership development. Leadership development is enhanced through the combined efforts of internal stakeholders (teacher, faculty leaders and students themselves) and external stakeholders (parents, graduates, corporate partners, and government officers).One of the key recommendations from this study is the application of a ‘cultivating like a tree: SLD ecosystem’ model, which proposes a student leadership development approach that applies the metaphor of the support needed for a tree to thrive. Just as trees need nourishment from their roots, trunk and branches, leadership development requires the sustained support of stakeholders at different levels. This ecosystem emphasises the need for a balanced approach that promotes student growth through deep-rooted mentoring, ongoing engagement with external partners such as businesses and alumni, and a flexible curriculum that allows students to dip their toes into new areas of leadership practice. The model aims to create a sustainable and adaptive environment for student leadership that meets the needs of China's changing educational and social landscape.The findings also suggest that the leadership development model must be adapted to China's specific political, economic and cultural conditions and aligned with the national policy goal of modernising China's education by 2035. In addition, it provides universities with practical strategies for improving student leadership: the formal implementation of a mentorship programme, strategic stakeholders and an enabling environment for continuous leadership learning.This research is innovative because it designs a model that combines global leadership theory with the particular conditions in China and insists on stakeholder participation in designing leadership education. This paper effectively proposes ways to improve the governance of Chinese universities and how institutional goals can be matched with stakeholder expectations. This study aims to contribute to the redesign of governance in Chinese higher education in a stakeholder context to develop students' leadership capabilities to cope with the dynamic changes prevalent in a global environment. Further research findings provide a basis for further exploring this issue, i.e. by linking theory and practice through longitudinal research findings, cross-cultural comparisons and the use of stakeholder diversity in leadership development, to provide holistic solutions for sustainable leadership development in Chinese universities.
Author: Zeng, Yipeng
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7112354880
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