THE INFLUENCE OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT ON ACADEMIC STAFF PERFORMANCE IN KENYAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN COAST REGION

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the influence of career development on academic staff performance in Kenyan public universities in Coast Region. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the influence of career planning on academic staff performance in Kenyan public universities in Coast Region, to establish the influence of career advancement on academic staff performance in Kenyan public universities in Coast Region and to identify the influence of mentoring on academic staff performance in Kenyan public universities in Coast Region. The research hypotheses were then formulated from the literature review. The theoretical background of career development was analyzed to identify its relevance to the study. The conceptual framework was illustrated and the research variables discussed in depth. The empirical review of career development was analyzed to identify research gaps which the study sought to fill. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design of which the target population was the full time academic staff in the three public universities in Coast region which was found to be 577. The study adopted stratified random sampling after which 30% of each stratum was used to arrive at the sample size of 173. A Five Point Likert Type Scale questionnaire was used to collect primary data for the study. The questionnaires were then coded and responses analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to determine the relationship between career development practices and academic staff performance. Analyzed data was then presented in tables, graphs and pie-charts. The study found out that career planning had a significant influence on academic staff performance in Kenyan public universities in Coast Region. A majority of academic staff were found to have individual career plans while universities. Further, the universities under study were found to have career development plans for their academic staff. Mentoring was found to have a significant influence on academic staff performance in Kenyan public universities in Coast Region. The study established that the universities under study did not have proper performance appraisal systems that determined attainment of goals. Further, the universities had well established training plans for their academic staff. Career advancement had significant influence on academic staff performance in Kenyan public universities in Coast Region. The study found out that career advancement in the universities under study was based on academic staff competencies. Further, the universities had career progression guidelines which stipulated conditions for promotion. The study recommends that universities should provide adequate career advisory services to its academic staff and develop career development plans for their academic staff. Further, the study suggests that further studies should be undertaken in other regions in Kenya and determine the influence of other career development variables such as succession planning and career guidance on academic staff performance in Kenyan public universities.