Rewards and retention of academic staff in College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between rewards and academic staff retention in the College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University. Academic staff retention in the college was deemed to be poor with high turnover rates. It was guided by two objectives to establish the relationship between monetary rewards, non-monetary rewards and academic staff retention in the College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University. The study was cross sectional, involving the use of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study involved a number of 92 academic staff and 24 administrative staff who were selected using purposive sampling. The main data collection instruments involved; a self administered questionnaire and interview guide. Data was analysed using percentages, frequencies, means and standard deviations at descriptive level and using Pearson’s correlation coefficient method to test the study objectives. The findings of the study showed positive significant relationship between financial, non-financial rewards and academic staff retention in College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University. It was concluded that financial rewards, non-financial rewards have a positive significant relationship on academic staff retention in College of Education and External Studies. It was recommended that to increase academic staff retention, the university should put up many generating projects like agricultural farms, soliciting donations, mobilizing funds from the government to increase on the staff salary budget. In so doing, their financial rewards will increase. There should be provision of responsibility, praising and acknowledging staff work by management.