Abstract

Orientation: Academic staff are in high demand at South African institutions and talent retention issues are a huge challenge for university management.

Research purpose: The primary objective of this study was to develop a framework for talent management in higher education that would allow South African public universities to attract and retain academic staff.

Motivation for the study: There is a paucity of studies on the holistic talent management system within South African public universities although previous researchers attempted to investigate some of the components that constitute the topic.

Research approach/design and method: The study was subject to mixed methods to analyse data collected from a random sample survey (n = 153) of academic employees and semi-structured interviews (n = 7) of non-academic employees from one university. Quantitative descriptive data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 24), whilst the qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Main findings: Seven themes emerged, highlighting shortcomings in talent management processes and practices at the investigated South African university. Specifically, workforce planning, compensation and rewards, recruitment and selection, performance management, succession planning, training and development and talent retention showed the need to revitalise a strategic approach to attract academics whilst retaining the best to ensure that South African universities achieve their visions and missions.

Practical/managerial implications: Human resource professionals and talent managers in South African public universities can use the study’s findings to improve talent management practices in their institutions, which significantly lead to sustainable competitive advantage.

Contribution/value-add: This research offers human resource professionals and talent managers a talent management framework for attracting and retaining employees in the higher education sector. The proposed framework guides talent management processes and practices at South African public institutions by highlighting activities to further efficiently and effectively attract and retain academic staff.