Abstract
We provide an empirical investigation of leadership characteristics and social justice issues in the context of financial literacy service-learning. Using a unique dataset of student self-ratings, we find that students experience statistically significant increases in 8 of the 10 leadership dimensions and 7 of the 7 social justice issues examined in this study. Leadership dimensions include: persuasion, building community, “commitment to the growth of people,” stewardship, empathy, awareness, foresight, and listening. Interest in social justice issues include: dignity of the human person, community and the common good, rights and responsibilities, option for the poor, dignity of work, solidarity, and care for God’s creation. The statistically significant increases in these dimensions following the completion of the service-learning suggest positive effects on students’ self-perception of leadership qualities and interests in social justice issues: business school students sense improvement in nurturing growth of employees and colleagues, commitment to serving the need of others, understanding and empathizing with others, ethics, ability to foresee the likely outcome of a situation, and listening intently to others. As a consequence of the financial literacy service-learning, we believe that business students become more prepared toward becoming ethical leaders and citizens with compassion to serve the world for the well-being of all people, rich and poor alike.
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Notes
Ignatius University and the SERVE program are pseudonyms.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful for the comments provided by the anonymous referees. In addition, the authors would like to thank participants at the Colleagues in Jesuit Business Education Annual Meetings (Los Angeles, CA, July 12–14, 2012) for useful comments and discussions. The authors would also like to thank the staff of the UDM Institute for Leadership and Service for compiling and providing the data. Omid would like to thank Michele Burton and Operation HOPE for coordination of the UDM Banking On Our Future Program.
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Sabbaghi, O., Cavanagh S. J., G.F. & Hipskind S. J., T. Service-Learning and Leadership: Evidence from Teaching Financial Literacy. J Bus Ethics 118, 127–137 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1545-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1545-6