Original Research

Managing the academic talent void: Investigating factors in academic turnover and retention in South Africa

Marguerite Theron, Nicolene Barkhuizen, Yvonne du Plessis
SA Journal of Industrial Psychology | Vol 40, No 1 | a1117 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v40i1.1117 | © 2014 Marguerite Theron, Nicolene Barkhuizen, Yvonne du Plessis | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 31 March 2013 | Published: 17 April 2014

About the author(s)

Marguerite Theron, Department of Human Resource Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Nicolene Barkhuizen, Department of Human Resource Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Industrial Psychology, North-West University, South Africa
Yvonne du Plessis, Department of Human Resource Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Orientation: Globally, the demand for academic staff in higher education is expected to continue to increase. The South African situation is exacerbated by the so-called ‘retirement swell’ and turnover and retention problems; measurements to diagnose these factors remain limited.

Research purpose: This study aimed to investigate the factors that influence turnover and retention of academic and to validate the developed talent retention diagnostic tool for use in South African higher education institutions.

Motivation for the study: Limited research currently exists on the retention factors of academic staff in the South African context.

Research approach, design and method: Using an investigative quantitative research approach, the tool was administered to a convenience sample of academics (n = 153) in 13 higher education institutions.

Main findings: The results showed an array of distinguishing turnover and retention factors and proved the tool to be a valid and reliable measure. Over half the respondents indicated slight to strong dissatisfaction with compensation and performance management practices. Significantly, 34% indicated that they considered exiting their academic institution, citing unhappiness about compensation, as the most likely reason, whilst 74.5% have previously looked for another job.

Practical/managerial implications: The research highlights key areas (i.e. compensation, emotional recognition, a bonus structure that reflects employee contribution, performance management systems, mentorship and career development opportunities) that higher education should attend to if they want to retain their key and talented academic staff.

Contribution/value-add: The results contribute to new knowledge on the factors that contribute to turnover and retention of academic staff and present a valid and reliable measure to assess these retention factors.


Keywords

No related keywords in the metadata.

Metrics

Total abstract views: 10373
Total article views: 16939

 

Crossref Citations

1. Psikolojik Sözleşme İhlali Algısının İşe Adanmışlık ve İşten Ayrılma Niyeti Üzerindeki Etkisi
Gaye ONAN, Mithat TURHAN
ODÜ Sosyal Bilimler Araştırmaları Dergisi (ODÜSOBİAD)  year: 2023  
doi: 10.48146/odusobiad.1180714

2. The effects of organizational factors on work outcomes: The role of employee resilience in hospitality kitchens
Marija Jakubiv, Mladen Pršić, Miloš Ćirić
Menadzment u hotelijerstvu i turizmu  vol: 10  issue: 2  first page: 71  year: 2022  
doi: 10.5937/menhottur2202071J

3. Engage or quit? The moderating role of abusive supervision between resilience, intention to leave and work engagement
You-De Dai, Wen-Long Zhuang, Tzung-Cheng Huan
Tourism Management  vol: 70  first page: 69  year: 2019  
doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2018.07.014

4. Enhancing the well-being of support services staff in higher education: The power of appreciation
Laurika Van Straaten, Annelize Du Plessis, S.P. Fanus Van Tonder
SA Journal of Industrial Psychology  vol: 42  issue: 1  year: 2016  
doi: 10.4102/sajip.v42i1.1301

5. Training and development impact on job satisfaction, loyalty and retention among academics
Motlokoe P. Mampuru, Bakae A. Mokoena, Anthony K. Isabirye
SA Journal of Human Resource Management  vol: 22  year: 2024  
doi: 10.4102/sajhrm.v22i0.2420

6. The functioning of academic employees in a dynamic South African higher education environment
Thapelo D. ChaaCha, Elrie Oosthuysen
Frontiers in Education  vol: 8  year: 2023  
doi: 10.3389/feduc.2023.1016845

7. Exploring academic staff retention strategies: The case of Ghanaian technical universities
Esmond N. Kuuyelleh, Mohammed Alqahtani, Emmanuel Akanpaadgi
SA Journal of Human Resource Management  vol: 20  year: 2022  
doi: 10.4102/sajhrm.v20i0.1975

8. A framework development for talent management in the higher education sector
Rhodrick N. Musakuro
SA Journal of Human Resource Management  vol: 20  year: 2022  
doi: 10.4102/sajhrm.v20i0.1671

9. Academic talent: Perceived challenges to talent management in the South African higher education sector
Rhodrick N. Musakuro, Frances De Klerk
SA Journal of Human Resource Management  vol: 19  year: 2021  
doi: 10.4102/sajhrm.v19i0.1394

10. Institutional culture and academic career progression: Perceptions and experiences of academic staff
Nina Barnes, Marieta Du Plessis, José Frantz
SA Journal of Industrial Psychology  vol: 47  year: 2021  
doi: 10.4102/sajip.v47i0.1878

11. Investigating the Impact of Talent Management Practices on Employee Turnover Intention in E-Commerce Sector of Pakistan
Shifa Bibi
Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE)  vol: 12  issue: 4  first page: 348  year: 2023  
doi: 10.61506/01.00135

12. The psychological contract and staff retention among South African higher education employees: The influence of socio-demographics
Annette Snyman, Nadia Ferreira
SA Journal of Human Resource Management  vol: 21  year: 2023  
doi: 10.4102/sajhrm.v21i0.2354

13. The Impact of the Psychological Contract on Academics
Romona Sewpersad, Shaun Ruggunan, Jamila K. Adam, Suresh Babu Naidu Krishna
Sage Open  vol: 9  issue: 2  year: 2019  
doi: 10.1177/2158244019840122

14. Psychological contract, career concerns, and retention practices satisfaction of employees: Exploring interaction effects
Alda Deas, Melinde Coetzee
Current Psychology  vol: 39  issue: 6  first page: 1990  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1007/s12144-020-00660-0

15. Psychological career meta-capacities in relation to the retention of female academics in a teaching and learning environment
Ingrid Potgieter, Nadia Ferreira
The Independent Journal of Teaching and Learning  vol: 17  issue: 1  first page: 73  year: 2024  
doi: 10.17159/879dmh18

16. The impact of artificial intelligence on women’s empowerment, and work-life balance in Saudi educational institutions
Sayeda Meharunisa, Hawazen Almugren, Masahina Sarabdeen, Fatma Mabrouk, A. C. Muhammadu Kijas
Frontiers in Psychology  vol: 15  year: 2024  
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1432541

17. Person-environment fit, flourishing and intention to leave in universities of technology in South Africa
Christine Janse van Rensburg, Sebastiaan I. Rothmann, Elsabe Diedericks
SA Journal of Industrial Psychology  vol: 43  year: 2017  
doi: 10.4102/sajip.v43i0.1422

18. Academic staff flight from Ethiopian public universities: Causes and possible solutions
Binyam Zewde Alemayehu, Getahun Kelemework Woldemariam
Higher Education Quarterly  vol: 74  issue: 4  first page: 497  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1111/hequ.12241

19. A study on work-family life imbalance among women administrators in UAE higher education institutions
Vazeerjan Begum, Tahseen Anwer Arshi, Abdelfatah Said Arman, Atif Saleem Butt, Surjith Latheef
Heliyon  vol: 10  issue: 6  first page: e28286  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28286

20. Talent Management for Academics Within the South African Higher Education Landscape- A Conceptual Framework
Owen Zivanai Mukwawaya, Cecile Proches, Paul Green
International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management  vol: 6  issue: 4  year: 2025  
doi: 10.51137/wrp.ijarbm.338

21. Developing a Comprehensive Integrated Talent Management Strategy for a Tertiary Institution in South Africa
Owen Zivanai Mukwawaya
International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management  vol: 6  issue: 2  year: 2025  
doi: 10.51137/wrp.ijarbm.2025.omtt.45915

22. Teaching Research Psychology in South Africa: reflections by programme coordinators
Angelo Fynn, Hugo Denton van der Walt
South African Journal of Psychology  vol: 50  issue: 1  first page: 67  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1177/0081246319831820

23. Talent management and employee retention in the South African Higher education landscape
Njanjobea Isah Leontes
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478)  vol: 13  issue: 6  first page: 303  year: 2024  
doi: 10.20525/ijrbs.v13i6.3532

24. Challenges of women refugees in utilising reproductive health services in public health institutions in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Yvonne Munyaneza, Euphemia M. Mhlongo
Health SA Gesondheid  vol: 24  year: 2019  
doi: 10.4102/hsag.v24i0.1030

25. Talent management practices in a selected South African higher education institution
Rhodrick Musakuro
Problems and Perspectives in Management  vol: 20  issue: 1  first page: 532  year: 2022  
doi: 10.21511/ppm.20(1).2022.42

26. Exploring the talent retention strategies of Cape Coast Technical University in Ghana
Magdalene Bartrop-Sackey, Augustine O. Boakye, Patricia Muah, Nana Y. Oppong
SA Journal of Human Resource Management  vol: 20  year: 2022  
doi: 10.4102/sajhrm.v20i0.1865

27. Exploring the role of a total rewards strategy in retaining South African police officers in Limpopo province
Ndivhudzannyi R. Mukwevho, Mark H.R. Bussin
SA Journal of Human Resource Management  vol: 19  year: 2021  
doi: 10.4102/sajhrm.v19i0.1391

28. “Just smile and wave”: Workplace requirements and emotional labour of academic staff at a South African university
Susanna Maria O’Neil, Jeshika Gopal
Journal of Psychology in Africa  vol: 31  issue: 5  first page: 470  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1080/14330237.2021.1978680

29. Enhancing Talent Retention of TVET Colleges’ Lecturers through Specific Talent Management Dimensions
Kagiso Tsatsimpe, Anna-Marie Pelser
International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management  vol: 6  issue: 1  year: 2025  
doi: 10.51137/wrp.ijarbm.2024.ktet.45635

30. Evaluation of Activities and Operations of Institutional Health Research Ethics Committees in Southeast Nigeria
James Ver Ityough, Elias A Aniwada, Emmanuel R Ezeome
Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1177/15562646251363205

31. Implications for academic workload of the changing role of distance educators
Adéle Bezuidenhout
Distance Education  vol: 36  issue: 2  first page: 246  year: 2015  
doi: 10.1080/01587919.2015.1055055

32. The relationship between talent management, job satisfaction and voluntary turnover intentions of employees in a selected government institution
Nicolene E. Barkhuizen, Bongekile Gumede
SA Journal of Human Resource Management  vol: 19  year: 2021  
doi: 10.4102/sajhrm.v19i0.1396

33. Talent management practices and turnover intention: The role of perceived distributive justice and perceived organizational support
  Supi,   Noermijati, Dodi Wirawan Irawanto, Astrid Puspaningrum
Cogent Business & Management  vol: 10  issue: 3  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1080/23311975.2023.2265089

34. Job Demands and Job Resources of Academics in Higher Education
Mineshree Naidoo-Chetty, Marieta du Plessis
Frontiers in Psychology  vol: 12  year: 2021  
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631171

35. State-owned enterprises: Developing and validating a model of employee retention
Christinah H. Maphanga, Benjamin H. Olivier
SA Journal of Industrial Psychology  vol: 51  year: 2025  
doi: 10.4102/SAJIP.v51i0.2312

36. Workplace Mental Health Status Among Academic Staff: Psychological Distress, Burnout, and Organisational Culture at a South African University
Veena Abraham, Johanna C. Meyer, Kebogile Elizabeth Mokwena, Edward Duncan
Behavioral Sciences  vol: 15  issue: 10  first page: 1410  year: 2025  
doi: 10.3390/bs15101410

37. STIGMA, DISSATISFACTION, DISENGAGEMENT AND INTENTION TO QUIT: A MODEL PROPOSAL
Meltem Akca, Burcu Özge Özaslan Çalışkan
Yaşam Becerileri Psikoloji Dergisi  vol: 4  issue: 7  first page: 101  year: 2020  
doi: 10.31461/ybpd.732137