From Co-curricular Activities to Leadership Competence in Central China’s Universities: Opportunity Structure and Urban/Rural Disparities/Od izvannastavnih aktivnosti do kompetencije vodstva na sveučilištima u središnjoj Kini: struktura prilika i razlike između urbane i ruralne sredine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15516/cje.v28i3.41549Keywords:
co-curricular engagement; leadership competence; gender moderation; urban–rural background moderation; student affairs practiceAbstract
Abstract
This study examined whether engagement in co-curricular activities is associated with leadership competencies among students at two universities in central China, and whether this relationship varies by gender and urban/rural background. Using survey data from 752 undergraduates, a regression model informed by an urban opportunity structure perspective was used to examine possible explanations for urban-rural disparities. Results indicated that internships and disciplinary competitions were positively associated with learning and reasoning, communication and influence, and problem solving; community service was positively associated with collaboration and teamwork and social responsibility; and holiday practice activities were positively associated with communication and influence, social responsibility, and problem solving. Gender and urban–rural background moderated certain pathways. Internships and community service showed stronger associations with collaboration and teamwork and with communication and influence for female students, while rural students showed weaker associations with internships, especially in learning and teamwork. This study contributes to the literature by suggesting that the associations linked to co-curricular engagement are activity-specific and socially differentiated across student groups. The findings may also inform student affairs efforts to align activity design with intended outcomes, provide mentoring and time supports, and establish tailored development pathways for key groups.
Keywords: co-curricular engagement; leadership competence; gender moderation; urban–rural background moderation; student affairs practice
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Sažetak
Ovom studijom ispitivalo se je li sudjelovanje u izvannastavnim aktivnostima povezano s kompetencijama vodstva među studentima na dva sveučilišta u središnjoj Kini te varira li ta povezanost ovisno o spolu i urbanom/ruralnom podrijetlu. Koristeći podatke iz ankete provedene sa 752 preddiplomskih studenta, primijenjen je regresijski model temeljen na perspektivi urbane strukture prilika kako bi se ispitala moguća objašnjenja za razlike između studenata na osnovi urbanoga i ruralnoga okružja. Rezultati su pokazali da su stažiranja i natjecanja unutar akademskih disciplina pozitivno povezana s učenjem i rasuđivanjem, komunikacijom i kompetencijom vodstva te rješavanjem problema; volontiranje je pozitivno povezano sa suradnjom i timskim radom te društvenom odgovornošću, a aktivnosti praktične nastave tijekom praznika pozitivno su povezane s komunikacijom i sposobnosti vođenja, društvenom odgovornošću i rješavanjem problema. Spol i urbana, tj. ruralna pozadina modulirali su određene putove. Prakse i volontiranje u zajednici pokazale su jače povezanosti sa suradnjom i timskim radom te s komunikacijom i kompetencijom vodstva među studenticama, dok su studenti iz ruralnih područja pokazali slabije povezanosti s praksama, osobito u učenju i timskom radu. Ova studija doprinosi literaturi pokazujući da su dobivene, društveno diferencirane korelacije proizašle iz izvannastavnoga angažmana studenata. Dobiveni rezultati također mogu informirati o nastojanjima studentskih službi u usklađivanju dizajna izvannastavnih aktivnosti s planiranim ishodima, pružanju mentorske i vremenske podrške te uspostavljanju prilagođenih razvojnih putova za ključne skupine.
Ključne riječi: kompetencija vodstva; moderatorska uloga spola; moderatorska uloga urbanoga/ruralnoga podrijetla; praksa podrške studentima; sudjelovanje u izvannastavnim aktivnostima
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Copyright (c) 2026 Kaixue Han, Ting Liu, Fei Han (Author)
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