Event-based Bilingual Bicultural Studies Programme: Enabling Authentic Engagements in Student Leadership Praxis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of event-based bilingual bicultural studies programme on student-leaders by establishing their perspectives on the programme, identifying the most valuable activity, and determining how events affected their outlook as young leaders. This is a qualitative case study that focuses on participants’ take about eventbased leadership platform within bilingual and bicultural learning environment. This study employed purposive sampling and data were generated using semi-structured interview. The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings revealed the following themes which emphasised answers for each of the three questions on how event-based bilingual bicultural study programme influenced student-leaders under question 1, how they perceived the programme: a) cultural immersion, (b) empowerment, and (c) broadened perspectives; under question 2, the most valuable activity: a) public speaking or debating, (b) educational trips, and (c) community service; under question 3, how the events affected their outlook as young leaders: a) increased self-confidence, and (2) empowered maturity. Moreover, by employing purposive reflection on the findings, this study offers deeper insights on how students’ involvement in objective-driven school events could serve as enabler and centrepiece of students’ leadership capabilities.