Mobilising international higher education partnerships for youth leadership

Evidence from a cross-cultural development initiative in Assam, India

This article analyses a cross-cultural leadership development initiative in Assam, India, using primary quantitative and qualitative data from  61 participants across more than 30 higher education institutions. It examines how international higher education actors supported a train-the-trainer model developed with Uma Global and Assamese partners to build local capacity for leadership and intercultural pedagogy. The  findings suggest that specific pedagogical features and partnership practices were associated with perceived gains in youth leadership, intercultural openness, and gender equitable attitudes, offering practical insights for policymakers and higher education leaders concerned with internationalisation at home and capacity-building.