Integrating Leadership Development Throughout the Undergraduate Science Curriculum

Development of Leadership Competencies During Studies at an Institution of Higher Education: Students’ Opinion

“…Well-trained professionals need disciplinary knowledge and skills, but also competencies that prepare them to lead in an increasingly complex world [25], competences that prepare them to be influential in their professions and in the society, and competences that prepare them to create added value of the professional activities. These are the leadership competences.…”

“…Actually, students when entering universities and colleges have a narrow view of leadership [25]. Usually, they think that leadership is based on the formal organizational position and formal authority.…”

“…Ability to influence others is not less important. Scientifically trained people are called to lead in some points of their lives-in professional and/or social lives-and should be prepared to do that [25].…”

“…Corresponding activities should be involved into other study subjects as well [19,22,35]. Students need to be engaged in activities integrated into curricula that promote not only the development of leadership competences but-and that is very important -leader's behavior has to be trained [25]. The debate on social and cultural issues could contribute to the development of some of the leadership competencies in higher school.…”

“…Although there are studies exploring leadership development at the universities and colleges done, most often they explore either students who study nature sciences [19,25], students of social sciences, or students of humanities. And that might be the reason hindering effective implementation of a leadership development policy at the contemporary universities and colleges.…”