Environment and employee development policies as correlates of academic staff retention at Makerere University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between work environment, employee development policies and academic staff retention at Makerere University. The study was guided by four specific objectives, that is, to establish the relationship between; physical environment, psychosocial environment, training policy, management development policy and staff retention. The study used mainly the quantitative approach with a correlational cross sectional research design. Using primary data collection methods, a sample of 174 academic staff responded to the self -administered questionnaire. Qualitative approach was used to augment quantitative paradigm, using primary data collection method of interview, six senior administrative staff who were once academic staff, purposively sampled from four colleges were interviewed using a an interview guide. At univariate level, descriptive data were analysed using frequencies, percentages and graphs. At bi- variate, Pearson’s Linear Co - relational Co-efficient was used. From the findings, it was concluded that; physical environment has a positive relationship with academic staff retention, psychosocial environment has a positive relationship with academic staff retention, training policy positively relates with academic staff retention; and management development policy positively relates with academic staff retention. The researcher therefore, recommended that Makerere University should: design a conducive physical research work environment, improve on teaching learning environment through investment in modern teaching - learning technology, provision of competitive research grants to motivate innovative staff, come up with conducive psychosocial environment by designing work – life balance policy having interact groups supported, timely payment of salaries and allowances, enhancing salary payments at a level above rates for academic staff in East African states added to timely review of payment scales for efficient service delivery, pay attention to the academic staff association welfare demands, emphasize gender sensitive work policy directives, enhance staff teams to enhance academic staff retention, pay attention to clear equitable training policies and use non -discriminatory appraisal processes as basis for management development policy to enhance staff retention.