Article Green Open Access 2020

Objective outcome evaluation of a leadership course utilising the positive youth development approach in Hong Kong

Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education
Journal · Vol. 45 · Issue 5 · pp. 741-757
Abstract

This study adopted a single-group pretest-posttest design to explore the changes in 2,876 undergraduate students in positive youth development, psychological well-being and desired graduate attributes after they took a leadership subject utilising the positive youth development approach at one university in Hong Kong. The subject aims to promote undergraduates’ leadership qualities, particularly their intra- and inter-personal competencies. Participants completed the same objective outcome evaluation forms before and after taking the subject. We found that the participants showed significant positive changes in most positive youth development attributes (i.e. self-determination, cognitive competence, behavioural competence, social competence, emotional competence, self-efficacy, spirituality, and clear and positive identity), life satisfaction and desired graduate attributes (including problem-solving ability, critical thinking, life-long learning and ethical leadership). The findings demonstrate that leadership subjects can promote the positive youth development of Chinese university students and enhance their psychosocial well-being and desired graduate attributes. © 2019, © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Keywords

Author Keywords

psychological well-being desired graduate attributes Leadership program positive youth development

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Funding & Acknowledgements
Hong Kong Polytechnic University, PolyU
The development and implementation of this subject are financially supported by the Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The preparation for this manuscript is financially supported by the Li and Fung Professorship in Service Leadership Education awarded to Daniel T. L. Shek.
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