Can academic performance enhance group membership and leadership among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia?

This study examined the effect of academic performance on social group membership and future leadership
among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia so as to enhance good quality leaders in the future. Underpinned to
Blau’s social exchange theory, the study adopted survey method and proportionate stratified random sampling to
collect data from 319 semester-5 university students from three public universities in Malaysia. Data analysis
was done through descriptive statistics and regression methods. We found that high academic performance
significantly and positively influenced future leadership among Malaysian student entrepreneurs. Therefore, the
government and the universities management should initiate more advocacy programs to counsel students on the
need to focus on their studies so as to earn better grades which would enhance their active participation in
leadership activities after school. However, there was no evidence to prove that academic performance had any
influence on group membership among the student entrepreneurs. The study was limited to university business
students. Similar studies could be conducted on youths in other academic institutions such as secondary schools.