A Study on Sense of Calling among Academicians with a High Sense of Calling and Vocation in Ethiopian Civil Service University

Abstract

The concept and practice of calling and vocation did not get enough attention in Ethiopia as one of a leadership and organizational behaviors like job satisfaction, organizational citizenship behavior, job engagement and job performance in various public organizations. The purpose of this study is to explore the process how academicians discovered their calling in their career and life. In line with this, it also assesses the advantages of having and living with a sense of calling among senior faculty members of Ethiopian Civil Service University. The study also addressed the challenges faced by the academicians during the process of identifying and living for their calling. Sequential mixed method was chosen in order to identify academicians with a high sense of calling and vocation. Calling and Vocation Questionnaire (CVQ) was used to collect the quantitative data. The data was analyzed based on the interpretive key of the questionnaire by using SPSS version 25. The finding of the study indicates that people discover their sense of calling and vocation through various ways such as childhood exposure and opportunity, with the help of mentors, teachers, friends, books etc. Participants on this study considered their first experience as an important event of their life which helped them to pursue their future vocation and professional growth over the foundation of their sense of calling. The study recommended that education policies should be seen in the light of the concept of calling and vocation in order to produce skilled and passionate work force for the country.

Keywords: Calling, Vocation, Sense of Meaning, Sense of Purpose

DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-31-02

Publication date: November 30^th 2020