Addressing Career Obstacles within a Changing Higher Education Work Environment: Perspectives of Academics

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 376-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cobus Pienaar ◽  
Coen Bester
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
General Management ◽  
Effective Performance ◽  
Specific Career

Many changes have occurred in Higher Education Institutions (HEI), which contribute to high levels of work stress among academic staff members and that impact on job satisfaction, job involvement and job engagement. Owing to these changes, academics attached to tertiary institutions are being confronted with specific career obstacles that impact negatively on their job satisfaction and productivity. Our purpose in this study was to determine, from the academic's point of view, the role that HEIs can play to address these obstacles. In terms of positive psychology, persons should not only become aware of their problems, but also come up with alternative solutions on how to address them. A sample of 93 academics from one university, representing the early, middle, and late career stages was selected. The data were obtained by means of the Delphi technique in order to enable respondents to reveal fully what they were experiencing. Respondents were requested to suggest specific actions that could be taken to address the career obstacles academics are confronted with. The most important solutions were related to better remuneration, more effective management of role overload, more effective performance management, more training and development opportunities, more support regarding individual career management, more effective general management, more support regarding research outputs, elimination of discrimination practices, transformation initiatives, encouraging of entrepreneurship, improvement of equipment and working conditions, creation of job security, and promotion of networking.

scholarly journals Institutional culture and academic career progression: Perceptions and experiences of academic staff

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Barnes ◽  
Marieta Du Plessis ◽  
José Frantz
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Ethic Of Care ◽  
Academic Career ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Institutional Culture ◽  
Career Progression ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Institutional Cultures

Orientation: The South African higher education system is highly dependent on institutional cultures to enable the progression of academics with the aim to unlock the research potential of the country. Institutional cultures are directed by the values, practices and behaviours of its members.Research purpose: Establish and present, from the academics’ point of view, the values, practices and behaviours that facilitate an enabling institutional culture, which supports the career progression of academic staff.Motivation for the study: A comprehensive and deeper understanding of any higher education institutional culture requires analysis beyond the structural elements and established procedures of the institution. An understanding of how individuals interpret their environment, to support their career progression, is equally important.Research approach/design and method: A qualitative, phenomenological approach was followed, through individual, semi-structured interviews with 17 academics, across all career phases.Main findings: An institutional culture in support of academic career progression includes three major values of: equity and inclusion, an ethic of care and collaboration, that are interconnected to practices such as performance management, a career management system, a comprehensive induction and orientation, a collaborative structure, remuneration, as well as resources and support, together with behaviours, comprising the articulation of team values, alignment of individual and institutional values, as well as a systemic approach.Practical/managerial implications: Understanding the values, practices and behaviours within the context of higher education offers leaders and talent management practitioners the necessary factors to consider as they grapple to understand a culture that enables the career progression of academic staff.Contribution/value-add: Deeper understanding, from the academics’ point of view, the values, practices and behaviours that facilitate an enabling institutional culture, which supports the career progression of academic staff.

scholarly journals Job Satisfaction as a Determinant of Effective Performance on Academic Staff in Selected Public and Private Universities in Mongolia

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-145
Author(s):  
Bayasgalan Tsogtsuren
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Private Universities ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
University Professors ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Empirical Survey ◽  
Effective Performance ◽  
Education Culture

The aim of this study is to analyze the requirements for effective performance of employees in higher educational institutions of Mongolia. This paper proposed the use of organizational OCTAPACE /Openness, Confrontation, Trust, Authenticity, Pro-active, Autonomy, Collaboration; Experimentation/culture and workplace structure models evaluate job satisfaction and commitment of academic staff. An organizational OCTAPACE culture model is a fairly new concept and experience in Mongolia. This model has been studied and is wellknown in India, Malaysia and western countries. In Mongolia the subject of study has been developed at a low level. This study proposed that an employee' job satisfaction and commitment influence the effective performance of the overall educational institution. Data analysis results indicated that OCTAPACE culture influences job satisfaction and commitment, workplace structure (support, supervisor support) as well as significantly influencing on the job satisfaction and commitment. Based on the collected data, job satisfaction and organizational commitment significantly influence job performance. Mongolia has 17 public and 94 private universities (Mongolian ministry of education, culture and science website). In terms of participants in this study, a theoretical and empirical survey conducted in 160 Mongolian public and in 143 private universities including university professors. Data was estimated by SPSS 21 and Smart PLS 2.0 statistic programs.

scholarly journals The necessary requirements needed for employing e. learning in the (teaching staff) in the faculty member of education, from the point of view of the teaching staff in sudan university

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hatem Abdel Maged El-Sadek , Rehab Bashir Hassan Al-Awad
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Faculty Member ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
University Faculty ◽  
Educational Design ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The University ◽  
Descriptive Method

The study aimed to identify the necessary requirements needed for employing e. learning in the (teaching staff) in the faculty memberof education, from the point of view of the teaching staff. In this study the researcher employed the analytical descriptive method and the size of the sample in which the study was applied was (127) individualsof the teaching staff with a degree of Assistant Professorand above The researcher has employed questionnaire technique as a study tool. The most important findings of the study are: The study has come to the fact that the majority of the researchers managed to answer the study areas which are summarized in (the requirements needed for employing e. learning by the teaching staff، which was specified by this study، these requirements are vitally important from the point of view of the teaching staff. The most important requirements for the use of e-learning in the university faculty member. It consists in possessing the competencies of preparing courses electronically, which means designing the content or electronic curriculum in accordance with the principles of educational design. The most important recommendations of the study are: Providing all the requirements needed to put e. learning into practice (for the teaching staff members) which was determine by the study to employ e. learning in the institutions of the higher education in Sudan.  

scholarly journals Managing the academic talent void: Investigating factors in academic turnover and retention in South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marguerite Theron ◽  
Nicolene Barkhuizen ◽  
Yvonne Du Plessis
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
South African ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
The South ◽  
Reliable Measure ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Retention Factors

Orientation: Globally, the demand for academic staff in higher education is expected to continue to increase. The South African situation is exacerbated by the so-called ‘retirement swell’ and turnover and retention problems; measurements to diagnose these factors remain limited.Research purpose: This study aimed to investigate the factors that influence turnover and retention of academic and to validate the developed talent retention diagnostic tool for use in South African higher education institutions.Motivation for the study: Limited research currently exists on the retention factors of academic staff in the South African context.Research approach, design and method: Using an investigative quantitative research approach, the tool was administered to a convenience sample of academics (n = 153) in 13 higher education institutions.Main findings: The results showed an array of distinguishing turnover and retention factors and proved the tool to be a valid and reliable measure. Over half the respondents indicated slight to strong dissatisfaction with compensation and performance management practices. Significantly, 34% indicated that they considered exiting their academic institution, citing unhappiness about compensation, as the most likely reason, whilst 74.5% have previously looked for another job.Practical/managerial implications: The research highlights key areas (i.e. compensation, emotional recognition, a bonus structure that reflects employee contribution, performance management systems, mentorship and career development opportunities) that higher education should attend to if they want to retain their key and talented academic staff.Contribution/value-add: The results contribute to new knowledge on the factors that contribute to turnover and retention of academic staff and present a valid and reliable measure to assess these retention factors.

Scholarly Communication in a Digital Environment: Populating the Institutional Repository of the University of Botswana

Libri ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olugbade Oladokun
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Scholarly Communication ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Academic Excellence ◽  
Institutional Repositories ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
University Of Botswana ◽  
The World ◽  
The University

AbstractThis paper examines the numerous benefits of digital scholarly communication made visible through institutional repositories (IRs) that have become trendy in institutions of higher learning in developed countries of the world. In line with its vision to be a leading centre of academic excellence in Africa and the world, the University of Botswana (UB) established its own IR known as the UB Research, Innovation and Scholarship Archive (UBRISA). This paper discusses the challenges of profiling digital scholarly communication on UBRISA, a technology brimming with potential but which UB staff has largely ignored. The consequences of this neglect are seen in the paltry submissions to it during its four years of existence. The paper explains the implementation policy, and the involvement and functions of a tripartite team that drives UBRISA. The paper notes that the problem of tardiness experienced in populating the digital repositories of other institutions is also deeply rooted in UB. It shares some failed efforts made to populate UBRISA through the instrument of the performance management system – an annual contract which the academic staff members sign at the beginning of the year. The paper then analyses the efforts of the Scholarly Communication in Africa Programme (SCAP) that worked with UB in training its staff regarding the operation of the IR, and also established a workflow process for vetting, describing and uploading content to the IR so that UB scholarship could become more visible to the world. Some recommendations are also offered.

scholarly journals University of Wollongong in Dubai: creating a private university in the public interest

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Whelan ◽  
Daniel Kratochvil
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Private University ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Complex Organization ◽  
The University

TitleUniversity of Wollongong in Dubai: creating a private university in the public interest.Subject areaHigher education leadership and planning.Study level/applicabilityPostgraduate/higher education.Case overviewProfessor Rob Whelan was appointed President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) from the University of Wollongong in Australia (UOW). Professor Whelan brought to the job in Dubai the perspective that public‐good benefits flow from a comprehensive institution engaged with the larger community and these are led by academic staff members who produce research that serves the national interest. To apply this model to UOWD meant a thorough analysis of the organization in terms of both its culture and its broader environment. This case explores the various processes through which a new leader takes stock of an existing institution, identifies the potential for development in a particular direction, draws upon a range of stakeholders to refine the vision and develop it into a strategic plan, gains support for the plan, and then implements change through close collaboration with the institution's constituents.Expected learning outcomesThis case can be used to explore a number of issues in leadership and management including: identifying the various internal and external stakeholders in a complex organization; analysing strategies for mobilization for change, including the assessment of inclusive versus exclusive approaches; reviewing the opportunity costs of change; and assessing types of leadership.Supplementary materialsTeaching notes.

scholarly journals The Mediating Effect of Person-Organization Value Fit on the Relationship Between University branding and Academic Staff Citizenship Behavior

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 313
Author(s):  
Bassant Adel Mostafa ◽  
Azza Abd-Elqader El-Borsaly ◽  
Eglal Abd-Elmoneim Hafez ◽  
Sally Ali Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Organizational Citizenship ◽  
Organizational Citizenship Behavior ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Education Sector ◽  
Citizenship Behavior ◽  
Employer Branding ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Value Fit

Nowadays, research on employer branding is still growing. A specific focus on branding in the higher education sector is still limited, so this research investigates how employer branding impacts organization citizenship behavior and whether person-organization value fit mediates this relationship on a sample of 332 academic staff members working in the private higher education sector in Egypt. The data collection was performed using a self-administered survey. The research employs correlation and regression analysis to test the research hypotheses.  First, the results revealed a moderately significant effect of employer branding practices on organizational citizenship behavior. Second, person-organization value fit has a positive significant mediation effect on the relationship between employer branding and organizational citizenship behavior. These results will help private universities determine to what extent investing in building a strong employer brand will help retain academic staff members.   Received: 7 October 2020 / Accepted: 11 December 2020 / Published: 17 January 2021

scholarly journals Relationship between Tertiary Institutions’ Policy Statements (Appointments and Promotion) Implementations and Academic Staff Job Satisfaction in Adamawa State, Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwaji Tizhe Takwate
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Policy Statement ◽  
Strict Adherence ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
Promotion Policy ◽  
Academic Qualification ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Policy Statements

This study determined the relationship between tertiary institutions’ policy statements (appointment and promotion) implementations and academic staff job satisfaction in Adamawa State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The total population for the study was 787 comprising 119 school administrators and 668 academic staff. The entire school administrators (119) and 250 academic staff was proportionately sampled for the study. Personnel Appointment and Promotion Policy Statement Questionnaire (PAPPSQ) and Academic Staff Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (ASJSQ) were used for data collection. The reliability coefficient of the research instruments are 0.94 and 0.92 respectively. Means, Standard Deviation and z-test was used to answer research question and test the null hypotheses respectively. Strict adherence to the implementation of institutional appointment and promotion policy statements by school management was rated low and high respectively by the respondents. The study revealed that school administrators and academic staff are dissatisfied with the implementation of these policies. A significant difference was found between the perceptions of the respondents on the implementation of these policies by the tertiary institutions. Based on these findings, it was recommended among others that minimum qualification of first degree or its equivalent for appointment as an academic staff should be maintained and indicated in every vacancy advertisements by all state owned tertiary institutions in Adamawa state, staff should be promoted based on either research publications, time-in-rank or academic qualification as when due and monitoring teams should be set up by the institutions governing bodies to ensure strict adherence to implementation of all policy statements.

scholarly journals The Mediating Role of Knowledge Sharing Attitude among Academic Staff at Higher Education Institutions in the Relationship between Organizational Learning Environment and Teacher Knowledge Sharing Int

2021 ◽  
Vol VI (I) ◽  
pp. 12-25
Author(s):  
Aneela Syed ◽  
Muhammad Danish ◽  
Nagina Gul
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Knowledge And Attitude ◽  
The Impact

This study aims to explore the attitude of faculty members in the universities towards knowledge sharing (KS). The study also analyzed the impact of the organizational learning environment (OLE) on the knowledge-sharing attitude among the university is teaching staff. An empirical model is developed while an integrated theory of Planned Behavior (PB) to conceptualize the Knowledge Sharing Behavior among the employees of Higher Education Institutions (HEI). Moreover, the study recognizes the levels of Knowledge Sharing between the staff members within the organization. Out of 407 respondents, 300 responses were collected through self-administer a survey. The results provide empirical evidence that OLE and Intention to Sharing knowledge (ISK) are significantly related among academic Staff at HEI. The results of the study may help the institution level of intention in sharing knowledge and attitude toward perceived behavior subjective norms to retain core employees within the organization.

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