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Full Length Research Paper
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Mentoring programmes for academic staff at the Polytechnic
of Namibia
Sylvia N. Naris and Wilfred I. Ukpere*
Faculty of Business, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
(CPUT), Room 22, Commerce Building, P. O. Box 1906, Bellville,
Cape Town, South Africa.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
pastorwilfred@yahoo.co.uk,
ukpere@cput.ac.za.
Tel: 27-735295587, 27-21-959-6013. Fax: 27-21-7615126.
Accepted 29 December, 2009 |
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Abstract |
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Mentoring enables staff to acquire skills needed to progress
successfully in their work environments. The main objective of
the study was to establish if staff members at the PoN are
interested in the concept of introducing mentoring programmes.
Policies adopted by tertiary educational institutions play a key
role in determining the future of an institution. The enquiry
employed a case study approach because it dealt with a specific
institution in Namibia. A triangulation method was utilised to
solicit information from academics, administrative and support
staff by conducting semi-structured interviews with HoDs and
sectional heads. A closed-ended questionnaire was distributed to
230 staff members of which 130 responded, which gave a
considerable satisfactorily response rate of 65%. Research
proved conclusively that formal mentoring programmes be
introduced for academic staff members. A total of 86.9% of staff
members supported the idea of introducing mentoring programmes.
Therefore, the researchers recommended that the PoN should
introduce an effective formal mentoring programme for junior
academic staff members. The study only involved Namibians and
permanent resident staff that have been employed at the
institution, and hence excluded non-Namibians, who are appointed
on contract. It will be in the best interest of PoN that a study
should be conducted to investigate the views of non-Namibians
regarding mentoring programmes. In future when formal mentoring
programmes are introduced, a study should be conducted regarding
effects of mentoring programmes on junior staff member’s job
performance. This paper offers PoN management an insight into
the views of employees regarding mentoring programmes. The value
of this paper is that it would benefit the institution, which
finds it difficult to attract and retain qualified people, due
to higher salaries being offered in private and other public
sectors. Developing staff through mentoring programmes will
uplift the nation, which has a skills shortage and encourage
more young talent to take up a career in academia.
Key words: Mentoring, career, programme, retention. |
