Effectiveness of Institutional Policies for Academic Staff Retention: A Case of Three Selected Private Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania

Abstract

This paper examines the effectiveness of university policies in retaining academic staff in private higher learning institutions (HLIs) in Tanzania. The study employed a mixed-methods research approach, collecting both qualitative and quantitative data to examine incentives, training, research support, and career development policies as variables for motivating academic staff in Tanzanian private HLIs in three universities in Tanzania. Additionally, 132 respondents were selected through a combination of random and purposive sampling procedures from the total population of 180 academic staff. The findings revealed that all three universities lacked career development policies. The study further revealed that the practice of religious regulations within an institution had a significant impact on promoting academic staff retention, but this effect depended on one’s religious affiliation. Additionally, it was revealed that training, research support, and career development policies had an impact on the retention of academic staff members at SEKOMU, SUMAIT, and ZU. The career development policy was observed as the most preferred policy among the others. The study concludes that retaining effective academic staff can give a university a competitive edge in recruiting qualified faculty. The study recommends that each private HLI in Tanzania should consider formulating and effectively implementing the relevant policies, such as training, career development, and research support, to attract and retain competent academic members of staff.