Synergistic Measures to Mitigate Staff Retention Challenges in Selected Zimbabwe’s Public and Private Universities: Returnee Lecturers’ Perspective

Abstract

The investigation analysed synergistic measures to mitigate staff retention challenges in Zimbabwe’s two public and two private universities from the perspective of seven criterion sampled Returnee Lecturers. The study’s instrument was an open-ended interview. Interview transcripts were analysed using NVivo data analysis software. The major finding was that the Human Resources Units can exit interview intelligence to retain staff. The other finding was that staff can be actively involved in retaining themselves. The study concluded that involvement of staff themselves in staff retention is among synergistic measures to mitigate staff retention challenges. One other conclusion of the study was that forging partnerships with other universities and organisations is a gateway to enhancement of staff retention in public and private universities. The study recommended that public and private universities need to seriously consider the concerns that quitting lecturers write on the staff exit interview questionnaire as a basis for improving their measures to mitigate staff retention challenges. Future investigations regarding measures to mitigate staff retention challenges need to cover all public and private universities in Zimbabwe and combine quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.

Keywords: Staff Retention Challenges, Staff Retention, Staff Retention Challenges, Returnee Lecturers, Public University, Private University