Human Capital Management Practices in Higher Education- a Case Study of Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia

Abstract

This study being a case study and descriptive in its nature examines the human management practices at Ethiopian higher educational systems with particular reference to Addis Ababa University. The universe of the study consists of Ethiopian fidl time academic staff members working at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. The study used a stratified sampling technique. The faculties and schools included in the study are taken as strata. Accordingly, out of the total 840 academic staff members in the units considered for the study, 250 (30%) were included in the study by quota sampling proportional to the total size of instructors in each college/faculties/schools and institutes. Finally, the questionnaires were di.stributed randomly from the list of academic staff members of each sub-stratum according to the quota allotted. Senior academic staff members that were used to hold and currently holding administrative posts at Addis Ababa University were incorporated in the study for interview. The findings of the study uncovered that teaching .'staff acquisition practices are not based on definite plan, and uniform recruitment and selection practices did not exist across the units in the University. The current perfonnance appraisal system did not measure work related behavior of the teaching staff, the members are highly dissatisfied with the existing compensation and benefit packages, the study revealed that the leaders of the University are not true representation of the members. They also expressed their dissatisfaction on the working conditions and existing facilities of the University though they have shown their commitment towards their profession. It was concluded that the University is not in the state of properly attracting, does not create an environment where the academic staff members are fidly committed to their academic tasks, and hence, suffers from retaining competent academicians. Therefore, it was recommended that transparent staff planning needs to be carried out at all levels, new appraisal system needs to be in place, the staff members need to participate in electing their leaders at all levels, and a compensation plan that attracts and retains competent academicians must be designed.