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

Nazni Noordin, Zaherawati Zakaria, Adnan Aminuddin, Muhammad Syahmizan Azmi and Jazimin Zakaria
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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

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2025, vol. 9, issue 3s, 7671-7679

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.

Date: 2025
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