Changes in the Development of Future Educational Leaders’ Social Competencies

Social competence is one of the basic key competencies of educational leaders, where the research aimed at targeted facilitation is absent. Thus, the study aims to verify the changes in the development of social competence and coping self-efficacy of future educational leaders within two courses (one-term course at university vs. one-year course at an educational non-profit institution) (university students of teaching branches: NUMB = 13; AMage = 27.8; SDage = 7.4; 29.4% men vs. participants of the educational institution: NNGO = 14; AMage = 38.6; SDage = 7.8; 21% men). The Coping Self-Efficacy Scale, CSES) assessed the overall level of coping self-efficacy and its four factors, and the Inventory of Social Competence (ISK – K) assessed four social competencies. Results showed a significant increase of low practical significance over time (pretest vs. retest) in the level of social orientation (in ISK – K) and an increase of medium significance in overall self-efficacy and in the ability to use strategies focused on problems and unpleasant emotions and thoughts (in CSES) among university students. After completion of the course, NGO participants increased (with a low practical significance) their SK-K levels of offensiveness and self-control and their CSES self-efficacy and ability to use strategies focused on problems and unpleasant emotions and thoughts. There were no significant differences between overall levels in the two courses. The study offers possible implications of social competence facilitation in the context of educational leader formation at Slovak schools.

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