AN EXAMINATION OF STAFF DEVELOPMENT FUNDING AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA (2010-2024)

Abstract

This paper studied staff development funding among academic staff in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 2010-2024. The study specifically examined the condition of refund practices, continuous funding of staff development, and the number of academic staff who benefited from the TETFund  between 2010 and 2024. The study used Skinner’s Reinforcement theory to analyze issues on staff development funding in the university system. From the 2433 target population, a sample of 1040 academic staff were drawn using multi-stage cluster sampling, across sixteen faculties of the institution. Structured Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from academic staff, while in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 academic staff and key informant interviews with four members of the university management. Of the questionnaires distributed to the sample, only 1000 were duly completed and returned by academic staff members. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS (Version 23) to obtain  frequencies, percentages, crosstabulations of variables, and binary logistic regression results using a mixed-methods research design. Findings reveal that the majority of academic staff have not been refunded for funding staff development. Furthermore, a binary regression analysis with a P value of 0.001 indicates a significant relationship between funding and staff development. Moreover, the available record shows that science-based faculties have benefited more from TETFund funding than humanities-based faculties between 2010 and 2024. Furthermore, the records show that of 231 funding opportunities, only 21 were held by female academic staff and 192 by male academic staff. Based on the findings of the research, the study recommended, among other things, the need for improved partnership and linkage strategies to support staff development participation, and for the university management to eradicate disparities in nominations for funding opportunities.