A study on global leadership competency needs of Korean college students and implications for HRD practice

The study purpose is to examine Korean college students’ perception of the importance of global leadership competencies, and by doing so, identify the priorities that need to be developed for global leadership competencies. Data were collected from a sample of 234 Korean college students from six Korean 4 year colleges and analyzed by utilizing a systematic needs assessment procedure that included Borich’s (1980) needs assessment model and Mink et al.’s (1991) Locus for Focus model. The results of analysis using Borich’s (1980) needs assessment model indicated that the most required competencies for the future came from the inquisitiveness section, followed by cross-cultural knowledge, travelling to strange places, and technical knowledge. Meanwhile, the least required competencies proved to be competencies related to personal character such as listening to other people’s opinions as well as honesty and ethic when meeting with people. Similar patterns were found when Mink et al.’s (1991) Locus for Focus Model was employed. This research is unique because it is the first to examine the global leadership competencies of college students, using a systematic procedure of needs assessment that can be replicated in future similar studies with globally diverse subjects and settings.