Leadership development at university: Comparing student leaders with different levels of involvement in a leadership education program

This study examined how students’ leadership behaviours are related to both their personal leadership experience and their involvement in a leadership education program. The context of the study was the University of Guelph’s Certificate in Leadership program. The Student Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) was administered to 33 student leaders who did not participate in the Leadership Certificate and 14 students who were at various levels of completion of the Certificate. No significant difference in Student LPI scores was found between students in the program and those not in the program; between student leaders with over one year of leadership experience and those with less than one year of experience; and between students at different levels of completion of the Leadership Certificate. However, students who were doing or had completed their leadership practicum as part of the Certificate had significantly higher Student LPI scores than those who had not.