scholarly journals Impact of demographic variables on emotional intelligence levels amongst a sample of early career academics at a South African higher education institution

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Marembo ◽  
Willie T. Chinyamurindi
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Online Data ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Consistent Performance ◽  
Value Add

Orientation: Emotional intelligence (EI) is highlighted by the literature as an important attribute that enables an individual to cope with changes and pressures in the work environment and subsequently yields consistent performance. However, some scholars debate the role of demographic diversities and their impact on levels of EI amongst individuals.Research purpose: This study examined the influence of demographic variables on EI levels amongst early career academics (ECAs).Motivation for the study: The study interrogates demographic variables and EI, two issues important in the 21st-century workforce setting. The relationship between the two may be of value to the debate surrounding the success of early career professionals in the higher education sector. The success of ECAs should be of importance to institutions of higher learning.Research approach/design and method: A quantitative approach was followed in conducting the study. Data were collected from a sample of 220 ECAs in a selected university in South Africa. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to the participants using SurveyMonkey online data collection tool. EI was measured using the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale.Main findings: Significant EI level differences were observed based on the participants’ ethnic background. However, no significant differences in EI levels could be found based on the respondents’ gender, age and work experience.Practical/managerial implications: The findings may be relevant to career management and human resources forecasting.Contribution/value-add: The study adds to the literature on EI and career success of early career professionals.

Developing a measure for student perspectives on institutional effectiveness in higher education

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter T. Ayuk ◽  
Gerrie J. Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Educational Outcomes ◽  
Institutional Effectiveness ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Student Perspective ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Structural Validity ◽  
Exploratory Factor Analyses ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add

Orientation: This study outlines institutional effectiveness (IE) in higher education (HE) and interrogates its underlying elements from a student perspective. Following a review of contemporary perspectives on student educational outcomes, the study identifies and explores the importance of four pertinent indicators of IE in the context of a South African (SA) higher education institution (HEI). Research purpose: This study aimed to explore the structural validity and reliability of the Student Educational Outcomes Effectiveness Questionnaire (SEEQ), administered to students at an SA HEI, collecting data on their perceptions of IE. Motivation for the study: Institutional effectiveness is a contested concept in HE and several approaches to define it, using various sets of underpinning elements, can be found. The conceptualisation and measuring of IE within the SA HE sector is a hugely neglected area of research. This study therefore attempted to delineate and to gauge IE, utilising the perceptions and preferences of students at an SA HEI. Research design, approach and method: Data for this study were collected using a self-selection sample (N = 807) of students from four schools at the selected HEI. Reliability and exploratory factor analyses were performed to explore the internal consistency and structural validity of the above-mentioned SEEQ. Main findings: The reliability of SEEQ is deemed to be acceptable and the validity of the four theoretical constructs (or dimensions) hypothesised in respect of IE from a student perspective were supported. Practical/managerial implications: Preliminary empirical evidence suggests that SEEQ could be employed in a cautious manner by HEIs (especially in SA), with a view to gauge IE, as well as to promoting the scholarship and management of institutional performance and student success. Contribution or value-add: This article presents a multidimensional approach to the depiction and measurement of IE from a student perspective. It makes a handy initial contribution to a grossly under-researched phenomenon in the SA HE sector.

scholarly journals Management competencies in higher education: Perceived job importance in relation to level of training required

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid L. Potgieter ◽  
Melinde Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Design Approach ◽  
Management Competencies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Level Of Training ◽  
Value Add

Orientation: The increasing changes and demands placed on higher education institutions in the 21st century and resultant impact on the roles and responsibilities of heads of department (HODs) have led to an increasing emphasis on the development of core HOD management competencies.Research purpose: The aim of this article is to determine the relationship between a specific set of HOD managerial competencies identified as being important for the job and the level of training required in terms of these competencies.Motivation for the study: Research has provided evidence that HODs are often ill-prepared for their managerial role, which requires the development of specific management competencies to enable them to fulfil their roles effectively.Research design, approach and method: A non-experimental quantitative survey design approach was followed and correlational data analyses were performed. A cross-sectional sample of 41 HODs of 22 departments from various faculties of a higher education institution in Gauteng participated in this study. The Management Competency Inventory (MCI) of Visser (2009) was applied as a measure.Main findings: The Pearson product-moment analysis indicated that there is a significant relationship between the competencies indicated as being important for the job and the level of training required.Practical/Managerial implications: Training needs of HODs should be formally assessed and the depth of training required in terms of the identified management competencies should be considered in the design of training programmes.Contributions/Value-add: The information obtained in this study may potentially serve as a foundation for the development of an HOD training programme in the South African higher education environment.

scholarly journals Sense of coherence, career adaptability and burnout of early-career Black staff in the call centre environment

2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nisha Harry ◽  
Melinde Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Call Centre ◽  
Career Adaptability ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Years Of Service ◽  
Value Add

Orientation: The call centre is recognised as being a stressful work environment that affects the general wellbeing of call centre agents.Research purpose: This study explored whether call centre agents’ sense of coherence significantly influences their career adaptability and whether their burnout levels significantly moderate the sense of coherence–career adaptability relationship. The research also investigated whether age, gender and years of service (as control variables), along with sense of coherence, predicted career adaptability.Motivation for the study: The positive psychological construct of career adaptability and its association with call centre agents’ sense of coherence, burnout, age, gender and years of service have not yet been investigated in the call centre environment.Research design, approach and method: A cross-sectional quantitative survey design was used. The Orientation to Life, Career Adapt-Abilities Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory General Scale were administered to a non-probability purposive sample of 409 early-career Black staff employed in three of the largest outsourced financial call centres in Africa.Main findings: Multiple regression analyses revealed that age, gender and meaningfulness significantly predicted call centre agents’ career adaptability, but that their burnout levels do not significantly moderate the sense of coherence–career adaptability relationship.Practical/managerial implications: Enhancing call centre agents’ sense of meaningfulness will increase their levels of career adaptability and career wellbeing.Contribution/value-add: This research is the first to investigate the construct of career adaptability in the call centre environment and adds new knowledge and insights to the existing wellness and positive psychology literature.

scholarly journals Enhancing the well-being of support services staff in higher education: The power of appreciation

2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurika Van Straaten ◽  
Annelize Du Plessis ◽  
S.P. Fanus Van Tonder
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Appreciative Inquiry ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Job Security ◽  
Support Staff ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add

Orientation: A literature search for studies on the well-being of support staff of higher education institutions (HEIs) produced very little results. Appreciation was then used to identify elements that might enhance the well-being of a selected HEI’s support staff.Research purpose: The aim was to explore the strengths of a selected HEI that might serve as driving forces for enhancing its support staff’s well-being.Motivation for the study: The lack of research on the well-being of support staff motivated the study. A need was identified to explore driving forces that might enhance their well-being.Research design, approach and method: A literature review guided by theoretical perspectives and theories on staff well-being was conducted. Subsequently, a qualitative action research design involving an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) workshop with support staff of an institution was followed.Main findings: The following strengths that might serve as driving forces for enhancing the well-being of the institution’s support services staff were identified: hard-working and dedicated support staff, positive relations among colleagues, a willingness to adapt to change,good remuneration and benefits, job security and a supportive work environment. Appreciative Inquiry was found to be well suited for identifying such strengths, as opposed to methods that focus on identifying problems or weaknesses of an organisation. As a result of this study, the relevant institution might react and build on these identified strengths towards promoting the well-being of its support staff.Practical/managerial implications: Institutions should make an effort to enhance staff well being. The results of the study could also be used to encourage HEIs to use AI to establish optimal staff well-being.Contribution/value add: The study confirmed the power of appreciation to identify the strengths that might serve as driving forces for enhancing the well-being of support staff of an HEI.

scholarly journals THE FACTORS EFFECT ON BRAND EQUITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (03) ◽  
Author(s):  
NGUYỄN VĂN THANH TRƯỜNG
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Brand Equity ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Research Result ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Quantitative Research Methods ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Quality In Higher Education

An issue of university development is the increasing stratification that significantly affects a higher education institution's enrollment and benefit. The higher education institution has realized that the brand increases recognized as an essential determinant of learner choice. The study identifies the components of perceived quality in higher education and examines the model of perceived quality and reputation effect on brand equity. With qualitative and quantitative research methods, the results confirm the four-factor structure of perceived quality and reputation influence brand equity in the higher education sector. The study asserts that perceived quality is considered a reflective construct, including library services, dining service, physical facilities, and academic staff responsiveness. Some managerial implications are proposed based on the research result.

scholarly journals Factors and effects of work-related stress and burnout on the well-being of social workers in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jabulani G. Kheswa
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Work Related Stress ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Value Add

Orientation:Work-related stress and burnout among social workers are on the rise because of extensive workload, job dissatisfaction and exposure to traumatic situations. Therefore, one should determine how they impact the well-being.Research purpose: This study determined the factors and effects of work-related stress and burnout on the well-being of social workers.Motivation for the study: An alarming number of social workers show no compassion towards the clients owing to burnout. Therefore, more research is needed for social workers to enhance their purpose and work engagement.Research approach/design and method: This qualitative study was designed from an interpretivist perspective. Fourteen social workers, aged 35–59 years, from two Department of Social Development and Welfare offices (Alice and King Williams Town) selected through purposive sampling participated in the study. Data were gathered by means of focus group interviews and grounded theory was applied for data analysis.Main findings: The study results confirmed that social workers attributed their work-related stress to lack of resources such as transport, computers and inadequate emotional support from their supervisors. Thus, they demonstrated impaired personal strength and poor human relations.Practical/managerial implications: To achieve commitment and optimism, there should be recruitment of new staff and salary increase for social workers.Contribution/value-add: The study results should provide coping strategies for social workers when faced with secondary traumatic stress.

scholarly journals An empirical study of the reward preferences of South African employees

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin J. Snelgar ◽  
Michelle Renard ◽  
Danie Venter
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Reward Systems ◽  
High Performing ◽  
Job Level ◽  
Variable Pay ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
African Context ◽  
Value Add ◽  
The Impact

Orientation: Adapting traditional reward systems to focus on employee preferences has become a necessity as companies strive to attract, motivate and retain a skilled and high performing workforce.Research purpose: The aim of the study was to identify certain categories of rewards that employees consider to be most important, including base pay, contingency pay, benefits, performance and career management, quality work environment, and work–home integration. The impact of these reward categories on an organisation’s ability to attract, motivate and retain employees was explored, together with the influence of demographic variables on reward preferences.Motivation for the study: There is much debate over whether reward packages should be tailor-made to suit individual employees. It has been argued that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach with regard to rewards is no longer effective.Research design, approach and method: A structured questionnaire, based on the total rewards model, was used to achieve the objectives of the study. A sample of 250 employees from 11 medium-sized to large-sized organisations participated in the study.Main findings: The results showed that base pay is deemed to be the most preferred reward component amongst respondents; however, they are most dissatisfied with the level at which this reward is provided by their current employers. Base pay is also the most important reward when attracting and retaining employees. Differences between reward preferences and demographic variables, including age, gender and job level, were found.Practical/managerial implications: Organisations should design their reward systems according to the preferences of their employees by focusing on base pay and contingency or variable pay. These rewards will also serve to retain them; although, to motivate employees, non-cash awards and recognition should be emphasised.Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to literature on reward preferences, which is lacking in a South African context. It also provides support for segmentation of rewards based on certain demographic variables.

scholarly journals Interactive Video Technology as A Mode of Teaching: A Qualitative Analysis of Nursing Students’ Experiences at A Higher Education Institution in Namibia

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Medusalem Hangula Joel ◽  
Daniel Opotamutale Ashipala ◽  
Esther Kamenye
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Interactive Video ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Student Experiences ◽  
Video Technology ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Of Nursing ◽  
North Eastern

Interactive video technology (IVT) remains one of the common modes of teaching utilised by various higher education institutions (HEIs) across the globe with an aim of catering to ever-increasing educational demands. The objectives of this study were to explore and describe the experiences of nursing students on the use of IVT as a mode of teaching General Nursing Science with a view to describing the aspects that affect their learning. The study was conducted at one of the satellite campuses of an HEI located in north-eastern Namibia. In this study, a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive design was used. A total of fifteen nursing students from the Faculty of Health Sciences in the School of Nursing, purposively selected from the population of fourth-year nursing students who were taught via IVT, participated in the study. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed by means of content analysis. Three main themes subsequently emerged: nursing students experienced the IVT as a beneficial mode of teaching; the use of IVT as a mode of teaching resulted in certain negative experiences for nursing students; and the presence of certain strategies that strengthen IVT as a teaching mode. The study identified both positive and negative student experiences resulting from the use IVT as a mode of teaching. It was therefore concluded that the School of Nursing should continue to use IVT as a mode of teaching, but should put certain interventions in place to strengthen it and to make the learning environment more favourable for students.

scholarly journals What Expert Say about Empowering Human Resources in Supporting Leadership Function in Higher Education in the 21st Century

JURNAL IQRA ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-38
Author(s):  
Eric Hermawan ◽  
Antoni Ludfi Arifin
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Leadership Role ◽  
Leadership Qualities ◽  
Online Data ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Higher Education Leaders

In Indonesia, universities and non-formal education institutions play an essential role in creating leadership qualities in both colonial and modern time. Although these two education models have different supports, the resulting figures are expected to be involved in community development with intervention through research and community service with the budget and recognition given to them. This qualitative study was going to understand what research evidence says about the leadership role in higher education. To ascertain how these educational institutions' involvement and role are. The researchers have conducted electronic searches on online data sources such as the Google Scholar application, ERIC Publications, and Microsoft Academic for publications from 2010 to 2021. Furthermore, analyzing the data by involving understanding the problem, coding the data. Evaluation and in-depth interpretation to obtain valid and reliable findings. Based on the discussion of the findings data and previous research evidence, the researchers reported the results, the transition period to a more advanced future, and higher education's role in more strategic and dynamic planning. Higher education leaders must work to foster the public by encouraging lecturers and faculty with study data and dedication to achieve development goals towards success. They take great responsibility for the success of nation-building in all directions. Thus, these findings become an essential input in developing the role of higher education leadership. Keywords: Empowering Human Research, Leadership Function, Higher Education

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