Open AccessFactors relating to the attraction of talented early career academics in South African higher education institutions
Author(s) -
Dorcas L. Lesenyeho,
Nicolene Barkhuizen,
Nico Schutte
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
sa journal of human resource management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.188
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 2071-078X
pISSN - 1683-7584
DOI - 10.4102/sajhrm.v16i0.910
Subject(s) - higher education , prestige , autonomy , job security , value (mathematics) , career development , public relations , work (physics) , sociology , political science , psychology , marketing , business , pedagogy , engineering , mechanical engineering , philosophy , linguistics , machine learning , computer science , law
Orientation: South African higher education institutions (HEIs) are facing significant challenges in attracting talents to academic positions.Research purpose: The main objective of this research was to determine factors that will attract early career academics to South African HEIs.Motivation for the study: Currently there exists limited research on factors that attract early career academics to HEIs as preferred employers.Research approach, design and method: A qualitative approach was adopted for this study; semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain data. The study participants comprised of 23 academic staff members from various merged South African HEIs.Main findings: The findings show that nine themes are related to the attraction of early career academics to HEIs: career development and advancement, opportunities to make a contribution, employer branding and prestige, job security, flexible working hours (work–life balance), intellectual stimulation, innovation, opportunity to apply skills and autonomy.Practical/managerial implications: The results also challenge HEIs to develop a superior employer brand with a strong employee value proposition (EVP) that would attract, develop and reward early career academics for their work efforts.Contribution/value-add: The study provides important practical guidelines that could assist HEIs to attract talented early career academics and become an employer of choice.