Application of Ubuntu as innovative human resources practice to retain academic staff at Sunyani Technical University, Ghana

Abstract

This article focuses on the application of Ubuntu, an African philosophical thought, to innovate human resources practices at the Sunyani Technical  University in Ghana. The human resources practices in this institution follow the Western approach which ignores African values as important factor in human resources development. In the competition for qualified academic staff, among institutions of higher learning, this University should innovate its human resource practices to retain its best academics. The objective of the study was to advocate for innovative human resources  practice based on Ubuntu (humanness) to retain Academic staff at the Sunyani Technical University. The qualitative research method of interview was used in data collection from twenty-two (22) purposively selected participants comprising fifteen (15) academics, five (5) heads of departments  and two (2) human resources practitioners. The study revealed that the use of Ubuntu in human resource practices and development of academic staff might improve teaching and research skills of academics, increase their commitment and job safety at the University. The study recommended that in this era of Africa’s rebirth, higher educational institutions should integrate African values into their human resources activities as a strategy  to transform their practices to become more African and to retain Academic staff.

Keywords: Innovating, Human Resource Development, retention, Africanisation, Ubuntu.