A Mixed Method Analysis on the Challenges of Staff Development among Academic Staff within Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

This paper studied challenges of staff development among academic staff in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The study specifically examined the challenges of staff development, the negative consequences of staff development on staff and the university, and coping strategies adopted to mitigate the challenges of staff development. The study used Miller & Rice systematic theory of organisation to dissect challenges staff development 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 Questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from the academic staff, while in-depth interview was used to collect qualitative data from 17 academic staff and key informants interview was conducted with four members of the university management. From the questionnaire distributed to the sample, only 1000 were duly filled out and returned by academic members of staff. Quantitative data were statistically analysed using SPSS (Version 23) to obtain frequency, percentage and cross tabulation of variables using a mixed method research method. While qualitative data were transcribe verbatim in line with research objectives. Findings reveal that inadequate funding, delay supervision, and poor electricity are the challenges of staff development. Moreover, sight problem, poor research output and brain drain were the negative consequences of the challenges of staff development. Based on the findings of the research, the study recommended among other things, the need for improved partnership and linkages strategies, effective monitoring of progress report, alternative source of electricity and routine medical checkup.