Measuring behaviour and attitude of workers to staff development and training the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

The centrality of training and development cannot be gainsaid in any efficiency-driven and goal-oriented organization. The purpose of this paper derived from the clamour of Nigerian academics for more training on one hand, and the university administrations’ view that the training programmes so far organized have not yielded the desired results, on the other hand. This study evaluated the level of awareness, perception of behaviour and attitudes towards the currently run training programmes by the University of Port Harcourt, and the training needs yet to be met. 80 randomly selected staff-members of the university were surveyed. The data collected were analyzed using percentage, frequency and mean scores. The research findings show that staffers are not aware of the number of training programmes available at the university (mean: 2.28). Also, the research respondents believed that training courses are not regularly organized (mean: 2.2) and that funding is a major inhibitor (mean: 1.925). Conversely, they agreed that the training programmes so far organized have impacted positively on overall work efficiency (mean scores: 3.0, 3.275, and 3.225), and also opined that there are certain areas where the training policy of the university is yet to cover (mean: 3.438). Findings further revealed positive attitude on the part of staffers as it concerns training. The paper is relevant to policy makers in the tertiary education sector and academics/researchers alike.

Keywords: Training, Attitude, Influence, Training Needs