A qualitative evaluation of a service leadership subject in a higher educational institution in Hong Kong

Abstract

The present study represents an attempt to evaluate the subject "Service Leadership" which has been conducted at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a credit-bearing subject. The dataset was collected from three courses under the subject in 2017/2018 academic year, which included 207 undergraduate participants in total (n = 87 were from the Semester 1 subject, n = 89 were from the Semester 3 subject, and n = 31 were from the Cambodian summer school). By analysing students' written feedback of descriptors and metaphors, researchers found that participation in this subject fostered students' development in different areas including self-reflection, leadership competencies, moral characters as well as caring disposition, and hence equipped them to become qualified leaders in the future. This study also provides convincing evidence that it is important for higher educational institutions to incorporate service leadership education in their curricula.