Transforming teams outdoors: gendered perspectives on leadership and cohesion in UiTM’s recreation curriculum

Outdoor recreation programs are integral to experiential learning, promoting leadership development, teamwork, and personal growth. This study explores the relationship between transformational leadership behaviours and group cohesion among students enrolled in outdoor recreation programs at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). Grounded in experiential learning theory and leadership psychology, the research employed a quantitative design involving 230 respondents from five UiTM campuses. Data were collected using two validated instruments: the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ). Findings revealed a strong presence of transformational leadership across all four dimensions—idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration—with idealized influence rated highest. Group cohesion was perceived as moderately high, particularly in group integration related to task and social dynamics, though individual attraction to group tasks scored lower. Independent t-tests showed no statistically significant gender differences in perceptions of leadership or cohesion, suggesting that UiTM’s outdoor recreation curriculum fosters inclusive and equitable leadership experiences. The study highlights the potential of outdoor experiential education to cultivate leadership and team unity, reinforcing the value of such programs in higher education. These findings contribute to the growing body of literature on leadership development in sport and recreation contexts and underscore the need for future research into environmental and contextual factors that enhance cohesion and leadership efficacy in outdoor settings.