Abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of career development practices on academic staff in Kenyan Public Universities in Coast region. The objectives of the study were to assess the influence of career planning, career advancement and training and development on academic staff in Kenyan public universities in Coast region. The research hypotheses were then formulated from the literature review. The study involved the three public universities with main campuses in the Coast region which are Taita-Taveta University, Technical University of Mombasa and Pwani University. 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 totaling 577. The study adopted stratified random sampling after which purposive sampling 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 positive significant influence on academic staff performance in Kenyan public universities in Coast region. Further, the universities under study had programs that developed their academic staff for future positions, formulated self-assessment tools that helped their academic staff understand their career aspirations and had career succession plans. Career advancement had a positive significant influence on academic staff performance in Kenyan public universities in Coast region. Career advancement was based on competencies of academic staff, equity and merit. Training and development had a positive significant influence on academic staff performance in Kenyan public universities in Coast region. Further, the universities conducted training needs analysis to identify skill gaps, established training plans for their academic staff and supported training and development of their academic staff through awarding of study leaves and sponsorship. The current study looked at career development practices of training and development, career planning and career advancement; however there is need for further studies to identify other factors like succession planning and career guidance that affect career development in an organization.
Keywords: Career Planning, Training and Development, Career Advancement, Academic Staff Performance.
Title: The Influence of Career Development Practices on Academic Staff Performance in Kenyan Public Universities in Coast Region
Author: HARUN M. MWASHILA, DR. MARY P. IBUA, DR. WILLIAM K. KAZUNGU
International Journal of Management and Commerce Innovations
ISSN 2348-7585 (Online)
Research Publish Journals
