Faculty turnover segmentation for the retention of academic talent

Abstract

This study aims at defining typologies of higher education professors by identifying the most important factors that determine job satisfaction to improve their retention. The methodology is quantitative, non-experimental, and descriptive. For this purpose, a sample of 163 professors from an educational institution located in Lima (Peru) is surveyed to assess their perceptions, preferences, and job expectations. Applying a K-means cluster analysis results in three teacher profiles: promoters, indifferent, and critical. In these three groups, there are differentiated assessments on the importance each assigns to organizational factors (salary, benefits, career development, networking, and institutional prestige) when choosing a new employer or when assessing their current employer. In conclusion, it is important to design and implement differentiated professor retention policies for each group in order to respond more effectively to their career expectations.