Learning to Lead: Student development through community management board engagement

Abstract

This study explores how participation in student organizations fosters leadership development in Turkish higher education. Fourteen undergraduate students (ages 18–24) from various disciplines who served at least one year on the “Mind and Intelligence Games” community management board at a public university were interviewed using semi-structured questions. Content analysis (κ = 0.97) revealed five key themes: (1) motivational factors for service, (2) personal development, (3) communication skill enhancement, (4) leadership competency development, and (5) contributions to professional preparation. Participants reported improvements in self-confidence, communication, decision-making, delegation, and responsibility. The most salient leadership competencies included decision-making under uncertainty, ownership, effective delegation, and conflict management. Findings indicate that both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations influenced engagement, and that board participation significantly contributed to students’ career readiness by providing transferable skills. The study highlights student leadership as a high-impact experiential learning practice in higher education.