There is an intrinsic relationship between academics and leadership; academics is the main reason students enrol at tertiary institutions, but more and more, industry demands holistic and well-rounded graduates with the capacity to provide leadership at all levels. Academic studies assist with the development of knowledge whilst leadership opportunities provide a more experiential skill set to thrive within an organisation. In this article, I will examine why institutions of higher learning should prioritize producing leaders and not just graduates, using my experience as a former student and now, the Cultural and Leadership Officer at Monash SA. 

Tertiary institutions tend to regard Leadership development as a peripheral activity, if at all. The fate of student participation in leadership is left to their genuine interest in extra-mural or out-of-class activities they create for themselves, rather than it being ignited from the foundations of the school curriculum, if at all! Leadership Development opportunities should be integrated into the school curriculum in order to expose students to their 

hidden talents, such as their leadership style, follower style, and people management skills.

These constitute a crucial part of soft skills, personal development, and the emotional intelligence that is needed to thrive in the work place and in leadership. 

#FLASHBACK TO MY STUDY YEARS 

I was always too keen to take on leadership roles, especially through the Student Representative Council
(SRC), or its Presidency. Writing an essay on the topic “Leader: A Personal Experience Or An Aspiration” as part of the 2013 selection process for the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, I argued my philosophy: people learning from experience have a remarkable quality. Students that learn, practise and execute are somewhat more superior than those that just attend classes and write exams. This is because they have explored what they learned and fused it with their own beliefs and creativity, which also enhances their personal skills.

THE IMPACT OF LEADERSHIP ROLES ON MY CAREER AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL...

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..people learning from experience have a remarkable quality. Students that learn, practise and execute are somewhat more superior than those that just attend classes and write exams..

Tulani Nkutse, Senior Residence, Cultural and Leadership Officer at Monash SA in the article.