Managing Professional Development Activities for Non-teaching Staff: For Professional Growth

Abstract

A knowledge-based economy, exponential changes in technology, increasing number of diverse students, call for innovativeness, community engagement, stiffer competition and demands for accountability put enormous demands in institutions of higher education. The non-teaching staff had taken significant roles in today's academic work environment. However, the challenges of the 21st century bring the non-teaching staff to be in front of the process. By using training needs analysis, we can determine what professional development activities to be given. To ensure its sustainability, professional development programs must focus on and benefit the institution which includes both teaching and non-teaching staff. Nonteaching staffs play vital role in the academic environment because they are in the technical and support side of the educational institution. It is very important that nonteaching staffs should also be knowledgeable with their role and participation in the process. This paper is an eye opener to the top management on the value of non-teaching staff as they portray equally important role same as teaching staff.