Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
Academic talent: Perceived challenges to talent management in the South African higher education sector
Submitted: 07 May 2020 | Published: 29 January 2021
About the author(s)
Rhodrick N. Musakuro, Department of Human Resources, Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town,, South AfricaFrances de Klerk, Department of Human Resources, Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town,, South Africa
Abstract
Orientation: Talent management is one of the most important and key strategic issues facing managers in the South African (SA) higher education sector.
Research purpose: The study aimed to establish talent management challenges at one selected SA public higher education institution (HEI) which offers contact tuition in the Western Cape.
Motivation for the study: Emerging trends show talent management has since presented unique sets of challenges in the SA higher education sector. SA needs to attract and retain academic talent to reach target levels of education and skills development and also ensure tertiary institutions accomplish their visions and missions.
Research approach/design and method: We conducted the study using the interpretivist research paradigm. Semi-structured interviews were applied to a purposive sample of 7 human resource (HR) professionals from one selected HEI in the Western Cape. Content analysis was used for data analysis.
Main findings: We established that workforce planning, compensation and rewards, training and development, succession planning, recruitment, selection, and performance management were negatively affecting the talent management practices of the selected HEI.
Practical/managerial implications: HR professionals can use the study findings as a basis for understanding talent management challenges in a selected HEI and what causes these challenges.
Contribution/value-add: The study establishes an insight into the talent management challenges of a selected HEI and provides reasons for what causes them. It also made several recommendations to the institution in order to solve the talent management challenges.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 6154Total article views: 7574
Crossref Citations
1. The changing meaning of ‘home’ in the work of South African women academics during the pandemic-enforced lockdown
Cyrill Walters, Linda Ronnie, Jonathan Jansen, Samantha Kriger, Miwako Hosoda
PLOS ONE vol: 18 issue: 1 first page: e0280179 year: 2023
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280179
2. Talent management perspectives in a South African provincial department
Musawenkosi Donia Saurombe
Frontiers in Organizational Psychology vol: 3 year: 2025
doi: 10.3389/forgp.2025.1605129
3. Attracting talent as a catalyst for sustaining learning organisations — a South African perspective
Lawrence Abiwu, Isabel Martins
SA Journal of Human Resource Management vol: 22 year: 2024
doi: 10.4102/sajhrm.v22i0.2628
4. Fostering organisational commitment: a resilience framework for private-sector organisations in South Africa
Ester Mujajati, Nadia Ferreira, Melissa du Plessis
Frontiers in Psychology vol: 15 year: 2024
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1303866
5. Talent retention strategies for female academics in the higher education sector
Blessing Kanyumba, Melanie Lourens
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478) vol: 10 issue: 7 first page: 142 year: 2021
doi: 10.20525/ijrbs.v10i7.1422
6. Human capital development as a line manager responsibility in the South African education sector
Mavela T. Gumede, Cookie M. Govender
SA Journal of Human Resource Management vol: 20 year: 2022
doi: 10.4102/sajhrm.v20i0.2079
7. The financial legislative role and capacity of municipal councillors at Ulundi Municipality
Sandile M. Khomo, Tshililo R. Farisani, Pfano Mashau
Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review vol: 11 issue: 1 year: 2023
doi: 10.4102/apsdpr.v11i1.691
8. Talent Management for Academics Within the South African Higher Education Landscape- A Conceptual Framework
Owen Zivanai Mukwawaya, Cecile Proches, Paul Green
International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management vol: 6 issue: 4 year: 2025
doi: 10.51137/wrp.ijarbm.338
9. A Model of Talent Management in a Faith-Based Institution: A Case Study
Edivaldo de Jesus Abel
Pan-African Journal of Education and Social Sciences vol: 6 issue: 2 first page: 103 year: 2025
doi: 10.56893/pajes2025v06i02.08
10. Developing a Comprehensive Integrated Talent Management Strategy for a Tertiary Institution in South Africa
Owen Zivanai Mukwawaya
International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management vol: 6 issue: 2 year: 2025
doi: 10.51137/wrp.ijarbm.2025.omtt.45915
11. Reward preferences to attract and retain Generation Z
Calvin Mabaso
Acta Commercii vol: 25 issue: 1 year: 2025
doi: 10.4102/ac.v25i1.1345
12. Talent management practices in a selected South African higher education institution
Rhodrick Musakuro
Problems and Perspectives in Management vol: 20 issue: 1 first page: 532 year: 2022
doi: 10.21511/ppm.20(1).2022.42
13. Enhancing academic staff retention in an open distance e-Learning higher education institution in South Africa
Tebogo Kefilwe Molotsi, Adele Bezuidenhout, Yvonne Joubert
The Independent Journal of Teaching and Learning vol: 18 issue: 1 first page: 39 year: 2023
doi: 10.17159/ijtl.v18i1.17166
14. Factors affecting the retention of millennial academics
Rudo R. Marozva, Emmerentia N. Barkhuizen, Masase E. Mageza-Mokhethi
SA Journal of Human Resource Management vol: 22 year: 2024
doi: 10.4102/sajhrm.v22i0.2301
15. Enhancing primary school leadership through cultural intelligence and talent management: A case study approach
James Hughes, Kate Davis
Educational Management Administration & Leadership year: 2025
doi: 10.1177/17411432251404429
16. Enhancing Talent Retention of TVET Colleges’ Lecturers through Specific Talent Management Dimensions
Kagiso Tsatsimpe, Anna-Marie Pelser
International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management vol: 6 issue: 1 year: 2025
doi: 10.51137/wrp.ijarbm.2024.ktet.45635
17. Talent Development in Higher Education Institutions: Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda
Olesya Smagina, Jean-François Stich
Human Resource Development Review year: 2025
doi: 10.1177/15344843251381389
18. Talent management practices for minimising talent turnover in a public sector organisation
Edith E. Gandi, Musawenkosi D. Saurombe
South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences vol: 28 issue: 1 year: 2025
doi: 10.4102/sajems.v28i1.6135