Examining Leadership Competencies of First-Year Undergraduates: The Mediation and Moderation Effects of Gender and Academic Disciplines

This investigation aims to measure the leadership skills level among Saudi undergraduates. It addresses measuring four main skills as indicators for leadership competencies: communication and personal behavior, learning and reasoning, strategic planning and civic responsibility, and self-awareness and interpersonal interaction. The study endeavors to assess the leadership capabilities of first-year college students at a Saudi university through an examination of various skills. While also investigating two mediation effects of these skills and two moderating impacts of gender and academic discipline. We perform structural equation modeling on a dataset comprising 5,992 responses collected from surveyed students. The key findings indicate a high level of leadership skills among first-year Saudi undergraduate students. The study provides support for the mediating effects of personal attributes, such as communication, personal behavior, self-awareness, and interpersonal interaction, on other leadership skills. The moderating role of study type has been supported in the relationship between learning and reasoning skills and strategic planning and civic responsibility. However, the controlling role of gender has been rejected. Research emphasizes integrating leadership skills in undergraduate education, addressing demographic factors. Insights guide policymakers to support social studies students and low achievers through systematic educational methods and tailored programs for faculty-student engagement.