Challenges of managing academic staff performance in a Namibian private higher education

Transformation in Higher Education

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Challenges of managing academic staff performance in a Namibian private higher education
 
Creator Shimaneni, Fiina Kiley, Jerome
 
Subject Human resource management academic institutions; academic staff performance; higher education; human resource management practices; private higher education institutions
Description The rapid growth of private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in Namibia has highlighted significant challenges in managing academic staff performance. This study explores these challenges through a qualitative, phenomenological approach, using semi-structured interviews with 19 participants, including academic staff, human resource (HR) practitioners and management. Grounded in the Ability-Motivation-Opportunity (AMO) theory and utilising thematic data analysis, the study identified key challenges, including job insecurity, resource limitations, technological divides, leadership deficiencies and inadequate performance evaluation systems. These issues contribute to a strained work environment, affecting the motivation and effectiveness of academic staff. The findings underscore the need for tailored human resource management (HRM) strategies, such as competitive compensation packages, enhanced leadership support and improved digital infrastructure. Moreover, the researchers recommend tenured positions, improving performance evaluations and managing resources effectively to mitigate these challenges. The study offers empirical insights into the complexities of academic staff management in PHEIs and provides actionable recommendations to strengthen institutional performance and reputation in Namibia’s higher education sector.Contribution: The study’s key contribution is its comprehensive analysis of Namibian PHEI’s unique challenges, offering empirical insights in this underexplored area.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor Namibia University of Science and Technology
Date 2025-05-29
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Qualitative
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/the.v10i0.442
 
Source Transformation in Higher Education; Vol 10 (2025); 10 pages 2519-5638 2415-0991
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://thejournal.org.za/index.php/thejournal/article/view/442/894 https://thejournal.org.za/index.php/thejournal/article/view/442/895 https://thejournal.org.za/index.php/thejournal/article/view/442/896 https://thejournal.org.za/index.php/thejournal/article/view/442/897
 
Coverage — — Diverse academic staff
Rights Copyright (c) 2025 Fiina Shimaneni, Jerome Kiley https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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