Abstract
The need to prevent eruption of unrests among students in universities continues to exercise the minds of higher education managers and policy makers in the world. Innovative approaches in the management of higher education designed to preclude students’ riots continue to face immense challenges and ineffectiveness in universities in Kenya. One of the widely adopted approaches is that of involving democratically elected student leaders in the management of students’ affairs in universities in Kenya. Despite the involvement of student leaders in the management of students’ affairs in public universities, students’ protests and riots continue to characterize higher education in Kenya. Consequently, there is need to examine the leadership skills that student leaders are expected to possess in order to perform their functions effectively so as to avert upsurge of strikes. This study sought to assess the student leaders’ skills that are critical in managing student affairs in selected public universities in Kenya. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. Stratified random sampling was used to select student leaders from four public universities. The sample comprised 19 members of student governing councils, 50 class representatives and 79 clubs and society leaders, making a total of 142 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires. Data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that 66.3% of student leaders had leadership competence to organize welfare activities to address students’ concerns in their institutions while 33.7% lacked capability. Further, the study established that leadership skills significantly contributed to effective provision of student affairs services. It is concluded that institutions of higher learning have not fully empowered student leaders to effectively perform their leadership tasks. The study recommends that student leaders should be exposed to regular leadership trainings during their tenure designed to equip them with necessary leadership competencies which would promote their effectiveness in enhancing university stability, peace and mutually accepted governance.
Highlights
How to effectively integrate the diversity of student leadership in the university governance system continues to pose the greatest challenge to higher education managers, policy makers and stakeholders
Evaluate the leadership skills that student leaders require to possess in order to manage student affairs in public universities in Kenya ii
Results and discussions were based on the stated objectives and hypothesis of the study. a) The study sought to analyse the leadership skills that student leaders should possess in order to effectively manage students’ affairs in public universities in Kenya
Summary
How to effectively integrate the diversity of student leadership in the university governance system continues to pose the greatest challenge to higher education managers, policy makers and stakeholders. Universities in the contemporary world have designed innovative approaches to university governance that involve effective participation and involvement of student leaders in management (Republic of Kenya, 2012a). Despite harnessing the involvement of diverse students’ leaders such as the students governing councils, class representatives, and clubs and societies leaders in university governance system, students’ unrests and riots continue to characterize higher education in Kenya. Leadership is the ability of an individual to influence and motivate others towards achievement of desired objectives (Spendlove, 2007). Student leaders should be able to influence both the university management and their counterparts in order to mutually come up with student affairs activities that satisfy the needs of the university and those of students’ fraternity
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