Management of Academic Staff Diversity for Enhanced University Administration in Rivers State

Abstract

This study examined management of academic staff diversity for enhanced university administration in Rivers State. Two research questions and two corresponding null hypotheses were posed to guide the study. The study was anchored on conflict management theory by Karl Marx in 1958. This study adopted a descriptive survey design with a population of 2815 lecturers and management staff of the public universities in Rivers State. Proportionate stratified random sampling technique was used to draw a sample size of 395 lecturers and management staff. A self-designed questionnaire titled: Management of Academic Staff Diversity for Enhanced University Administration Questionnaire (MASDEUAQ)’’ was used for data collection. Scoring was done on a modified 4 point likert type scale of Strongly Agree (SA) = 4 points, Agree (A) = 3 points, Disagree (D) = 2 points and Strongly Disagree (SD) = 1 point. Test retest technique was used to determine the reliability index of 0.64 using Pearson Product moment Correlation Coefficient which is high, reliable and adequate for the study. The mean and rank order were used in answering the research questions while z-test statistics were used in testing the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed amongst others that pairing of the old and the younger staff as well as the fusion of the opposite sex when allocating academic duties are the ways staff diversity are managed for enhanced university administration. Based on the findings, the study therefore recommended amongst others that government and other stakeholders in education such as Banks and NGOs should through inservice training such as seminars, conferences make policies that will guide university administrators in the management of diversities among academic staff for effective university administration.