BACKGROUND The development of leadership competencies in higher education students is particularly relevant in the context of the transformation of the educational space, the growing role of social interaction, inclusion, and psychological resilience. The need for specialists who cannot only adapt to changes but also initiate them underscores the importance of studying the conditions that foster youth leadership potential. The purpose of the study is to determine the impact of inclusion, counseling, and resilience on the formation of leadership competencies in students of higher education institutions. The object of the study is the process of developing leadership competencies in students. MATERIALS AND METHODS The methodological basis of the study is a quantitative survey using the Likert scale and generalization of data through statistical analysis. The study was ethically reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committees of the three participating Ukrainian universities (approval ID: 2024/REC-0412, February 22, 2024). Before data collection, all respondents confirmed their voluntary participation by providing digitally signed informed consent. RESULTS The survey of 187 students from three universities in Ukraine revealed a high level of influence of psychological resilience on the development of leadership skills (81% perceived positive impact), as well as the importance of counseling (72%) and inclusive education (68%). The key socio-pedagogical and psychological factors that ensure the development of leadership potential have been identified, including the quality of the educational environment, interaction style, motivation to achieve, and emotional intelligence. Based on an analysis of literature and empirical data, a model for an integrated approach to diagnosing leadership competencies is proposed, utilizing psychometric, sociometric, and situational project methods. CONCLUSION The practical significance of the results lies in the possibility of implementing effective educational strategies that promote the development of leadership qualities in students, enhance their ability to make decisions, foster teamwork, and promote social influence.
Honcharenko et al. (Tue,) studied this question.