Fostering Leadership Competency for High School Students through STEM Project-Based Learning: A Survey Study
Abstract
This study aims to investigate teachers' perceptions of the potential of STEM project-based learning (PBL) to foster leadership competency in high school students in Vietnam. The current educational reform context requires equipping students with 21st-century skills, in which leadership is a core competency that is often not systematically nurtured within the formal curriculum. The main research method was a questionnaire survey administered to 50 high school teachers with diverse experience. The questionnaire was designed to assess four aspects: (1) perceptions of STEM education, (2) the current status of STEM project implementation, (3) the necessity of fostering leadership competency, and (4) the potential of a specific STEM project ("Smart Greenhouse") to develop leadership competency. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the scale's reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach's Alpha coefficient of 0.728. The results show that teachers have a very positive perception of the role of STEM education (M = 4.32 for understanding its importance) and clearly recognize the need for leadership development among students (M = 4.44). However, leadership development programs at the school level are limited (M = 3.66). Notably, teachers highly rated the "Smart Greenhouse" project's ability to develop foundational skills such as project management (M = 4.26) and teamwork (M = 4.24), and believe the project can foster overall leadership competency in students (M = 4.10). It is concluded that STEM PBL is a feasible and teacher-supported method for integrating leadership development into teaching activities, thereby addressing a significant gap in current secondary education.
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