Perceptions of Faculty Members Regarding Obsolescence Issues at a Turkish State University

Abstract

The current study was carried out at a Turkish state university with a population of 262 fulltime faculty members to investigate the obsolescence issues. The framework is mainly based on Kaufman’s (1974) Direct Effects Model of Obsolescence using a 24-item survey, which questioned how frequent faculty faced obsolescence related with individual characteristics, work environment, organizational climate and whether these factors were related to faculty members’ gender, age, academic rank and work area. The results suggest that the faculty felt almost no obsolescence regarding these areas which gives hope for the future activities of the institution. Although participant responses did not vary with regard to gender, age and academic title; significant differences among the fields of study were found suggesting that faculty members at Health Sciences were surpassing all other fields, particularly the fields of Science and Social Sciences refuting a recent study. Implications and suggestions for faculty development endeavors were provided

Keywords

• Professional obsolescence, organizational climate, faculty development, change readiness

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