IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v9y2025issue-3sp7671-7679.html

Bridging Generations and Geographies: A Review on Youth Leadership and Rural Development Pathways

Author

Listed:
  • Nazni Noordin

    (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Petani Kedah, Malaysia)

  • Zaherawati Zakaria

    (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Petani Kedah, Malaysia)

  • Adnan Aminuddin

    (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Petani Kedah, Malaysia)

  • Muhammad Syahmizan Azmi

    (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Petani Kedah, Malaysia)

  • Jazimin Zakaria

    (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Petani Kedah, Malaysia)

Abstract

Rural communities are experiencing significant transitions driven by globalization, demographic shifts, and technological change, underscoring the urgent need for inclusive leadership. Within this context, youth leadership has emerged as a critical pathway for resilience, rural revitalization, and sustainable development. This review synthesizes insights from Scopus AI analytics (accessed 11 September 2025), including Summary, Expanded Summary, Concept Map, Topic Experts, and Emerging Themes, to map the landscape of youth leadership in rural development. Using a structured search strategy, the study identifies three interconnected clusters: education and training, community engagement, and pathways to leadership. Findings reveal that higher education, professional development, and online degree programs contribute to the professionalization of youth leaders; community-based programs and participatory governance enhance rural revitalization; and entrepreneurship and local champion models provide alternative leadership routes. However, systemic barriers such as sociopolitical constraints, limited access to resources, and uneven institutional support continue to prevent youth engagement. Emerging themes point to the growing relevance of digital platforms, climate-smart agricultural innovations, and gender-sensitive approaches in shaping the next generation of rural leaders. This review contributes for inclusive rural transformation by offering an integrative framework that bridges generational and geographical gaps, highlighting policy, practice, and research directions for strengthening youth leadership in rural communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Nazni Noordin & Zaherawati Zakaria & Adnan Aminuddin & Muhammad Syahmizan Azmi & Jazimin Zakaria, 2025. "Bridging Generations and Geographies: A Review on Youth Leadership and Rural Development Pathways," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(3s), pages 7671-7679, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-3s:p:7671-7679
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-9-issue-3s/7671-7679.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/bridging-generations-and-geographies-a-review-on-youth-leadership-and-rural-development-pathways/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Parkhill, A. & Deans, C.L. & Chapin, L.A., 2018. "Pre-leadership processes in leadership training for adolescents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 375-379.
    2. Lena E. Etuk & Mallory L. Rahe & Mindy S. Crandall & Michaella Sektnan & Sally Bowman, 2013. "Rural leadership development: pathways to community change," Community Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(4), pages 411-425, October.
    3. Garst, Barry A. & Weston, Kayla L. & Bowers, Edmond P. & Quinn, William H., 2019. "Fostering youth leader credibility: Professional, organizational, and community impacts associated with completion of an online master's degree in youth development leadership," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 1-9.
    4. Garst, Barry A. & Stephens, Lauren & Parry, Benjamin & Bowers, Edmond P. & Quinn, William, 2023. "Influence of a youth development leadership graduate degree program on the professional pathways of youth leaders," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    5. Yang Yu & Desmond Appiah & Bernard Zulu & Kofi Asamoah Adu-Poku, 2024. "Integrating Rural Development, Education, and Management: Challenges and Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-22, July.
    6. James P. Robson & Sarah J. Wilson & Constanza Mora Sanchez & Anita Bhatt, 2020. "Youth and the Future of Community Forestry," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-24, October.
    7. Michael Famakinwa & Banji Olalere Adisa & Dorcas Lola Alabi, 2019. "Factors Influencing Role Performance of Community Leaders in Rural Development Activities in Southwestern Nigeria," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 67(2), pages 473-483.
    8. Adaobi Anakwe & Wilson Majee & Kimberly J. M. Keller & Karien Jooste, 2020. "Family structure diversity: Views from rural community leaders and implications for youth engagement," Community Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(2), pages 157-171, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kiboi Kipkorir Walter & Dr. Thomas Otieno Juma, 2025. "Influence of Shared Decision-Making on the Development Projects Sustainability in Rural Societies in Mt. Elgon, Bungoma County, Kenya," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(7), pages 545-558, July.
    2. Inna V. Miroshnichenko & Olga V. Doroshenko & Maria V. Tereshina & Vadim N. Rakachev & Elena V. Morozova & Mikhail V. Golub & Laura A. Shpiro, 2024. "Analysing Rural Development Models Based on Intangible Assets and Socio-Economic Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-28, December.
    3. María Bastida & Alberto Vaquero García & Miguel Á. Vázquez Taín, 2021. "A New Life for Forest Resources: The Commons as a Driver for Economic Sustainable Development—A Case Study from Galicia," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-17, January.
    4. Yoon, Hyungjoo, 2024. "The mediated effect of youth council participation on the professional identity development of youth workers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    5. Lu, Zeyun & Pi, Yanting & Su, Hongzhi & Li, Zhitao & Ma, Xinchun & Su, Xufeng & Ran, Qiying & Hao, Yu, 2025. "Exploring the impact of rural human capital on agricultural carbon emissions: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    6. Kateb, Fatemeh & Esmali Ouri, Abazar & Mostafazadeh, Raoof & Sharari, Meraj & Hazbavi, Zeinab, 2025. "Index-based assessment of stakeholder perception for participatory sustainable soil and water resources in a mountainous landscape," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    7. Rebeca Guillén-Peñafiel & Ana-María Hernández-Carretero & José-Manuel Sánchez-Martín, 2025. "The Dehesa as Landscape Heritage from the Perspective of the New Generation," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-32, October.
    8. Birgit Schmook & Lindsey Carte & Claudia Radel & Mariel Aguilar-Støen, 2023. "A Diversity of Migration and Land Couplings: An Introduction to the Special Issue “Migration and Land”," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-6, July.
    9. Alyssa Schmidt & Kevan W. Lamm & Abigail Borron & Alexa J. Lamm, 2024. "Examining the Relationship between Geographic Groupings and Perspective of Critical Community Issues: An Audience Segmentation Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-20, May.
    10. Daniel Amente Kenea & Lalise Kumera, 2024. "Leadership Development In Ethiopia: Practices, Challenges, And Way Forward," Annals of the University of Craiova for Journalism, Communication and Management, Department of Communication, Journalism and Education Sciences, University of Craiova, vol. 10(1), pages 110-118, December.
    11. Christina-Ioanna Papadopoulou & Stavros Kalogiannidis & Dimitrios Kalfas & Efstratios Loizou & Fotios Chatzitheodoridis, 2025. "Spatial Variations in Perceptions of Decarbonization Impacts and Public Acceptance of the Bioeconomy in Western Macedonia," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-20, July.
    12. Jurjonas, Matthew & Merino Pérez, Leticia & Robson, James & Tadeo Noble, Alfredo Esteban, 2023. "Intergenerational perceptions of the collective action challenges facing Mexican community forests," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    13. Garst, Barry A. & Stephens, Lauren & Parry, Benjamin & Bowers, Edmond P. & Quinn, William, 2023. "Influence of a youth development leadership graduate degree program on the professional pathways of youth leaders," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    14. Abigayl Novak & Katherine Glover & Ling Li, 2022. "Integrating Woody Biochar, Women, and Youth in Maine’s Bioenergy Industry: Benefits and Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-10, November.
    15. Despoina Karagianni & Olga Lainidi & Anthony Montgomery, 2023. "Charting the Journey of Young Leaders: A New Model of Transferability of Skills," Merits, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-24, March.
    16. Laudari, Hari Krishna & Sapkota, Lok Mani & Maraseni, Tek & Subedi, Poorneswor & Pariyar, Shiva & Kaini, Tika Raj & Lopchan, Shyam Babu & Weston, Christopher & Volkova, Luba, 2024. "Community forestry in a changing context: A perspective from Nepal’s mid-hill," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    17. Xuan Wang & Lingqiong Wu, 2024. "Intergenerational differences in the environmental concerns of plastic waste business owners: environmental knowledge, environmental risk exposure, and community connection as mediators," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    18. Silliman, Benjamin & Edwards, Harriett C. & Johnson, James C., 2020. "Long-term effects of youth work internship: The Project Youth Extension Service approach," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    19. Alabi, Dorcas Lola & Aribifo, Damilola Leah & Famakinwa, Michael, 2021. "Factors associated with sustainability of agripreneurship interest among graduate youth in southwestern Nigeria," APSTRACT: Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce, AGRIMBA, vol. 15(01-2), June.
    20. Jie Yin & Xiangqian Chen, 2025. "The Process and Mechanisms of Rural Governance Network Transformation: A Case Study of Tianlong Tunpu in Anshun City, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-25, August.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-3s:p:7671-7679. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.