LEADERSHIP SKILLS OF FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN SAUDI ARABIA: POSSIBILITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine perceptions of leadership among female undergraduate students enrolled at a leading university in Saudi Arabia and, in particular, if these perceptions differ according to various curricular and extracurricular variables such as students’ major field of study, involvement in social activities, participation in leadership roles, and participation in leadership training programs.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This paper used a structured survey questionnaire approach that was developed by the researchers. The data were collected from 229 full-time female students.

Results: The results of the study indicated that the participating female students ascribed a high level of importance to all of the leadership skills in question. Nonetheless, significant differences were found based on the students’ participation and involvement in social activities. Students who were involved in social activities perceived communication, planning, evaluation, decision making, and directing to be more important for leadership than those students who did not have opportunities to participate in these activities.

Practical Implications: Understanding females’ perceptions of leadership can help both practitioners and academics to work more efficiently with female students in the process of advancing their leadership preparation and development.

Originality: The significance of this paper lies in the insight that it provides into Saudi female students’ perceptions of leadership and in the opportunities that this insight will offer for improving these perceptions and for increasing these individuals’ involvement in leadership-development experiences.