Evaluation of Employee Engagement among Academic Staff in Ethiopian Universities

Abstract

This study evaluates employee engagement among academic staff in Ethiopian universities, addressing a critical yet underexplored area impacting institutional effectiveness and educational quality. Employee engagement characterized by vigor, dedication, and absorption is vital for enhancing academic staff productivity, motivation, and retention. Utilizing a descriptive research design with a quantitative approach, the study surveyed 383 academic staff selected through a multistage sampling technique based on Yamane’s formula. Data were collected using a questionnaire comprising 12 engagement-related items and analyzed via descriptive statistics, with percentage values processed in SPSS version 26. Findings indicate notable challenges in engagement dimensions such as enthusiasm, pride in work, resilience, and concentration, where a majority of respondents exhibited low levels. For instance, 60.3% of the staff showed a lack of enthusiasm, and 73.9% did not express pride in their work, signaling motivational deficiencies that could undermine academic performance and institutional goals. Conversely, positive engagement facets such as absorption and a sense of belonging were reported by a substantial proportion of respondents, with 85.2% feeling connected to their universities and 64.7% experiencing immersion in work tasks. The study reveals a complex engagement profile driven by organizational factors like leadership quality, work environment, and recognition systems, which align with broader findings on academic staff motivation in Ethiopia and similar contexts. The mixed levels of engagement suggest an urgent need for targeted leadership development, improved workplace conditions, and enhanced career development initiatives to foster a committed and energized academic workforce.