Transformations in Academic Employment: A Comprehensive Analysis of University Staff Relations

The object of this study is to explore the employment relations of academic staff in universities in Kazakhstan, focusing on legal, administrative, and practical aspects. The study aims to analyze the updated employment and management model of university teaching staff, with particular attention to the legal framework, management practices, and employment trends. A comprehensive three-stage analysis was conducted: first, the peculiarities of the emergence, change, and termination of employment relations between teachers and universities were examined; second, the approaches to managing teaching staff were analyzed; third, sociological data on employment trends among university teachers were scrutinized. Methods employed include a systemic and sociological approach to summarize labor relations practices, coupled with formal-logical methods for legal analysis, and specific scientific methods such as logical, statistical, historical, and comparative-legal analysis. Empirical data were sourced from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan, monitoring data from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and sociological research conducted in Almaty. The results indicate significant areas of dissatisfaction among faculty, including workload, compensation, professional development opportunities, and remote work conditions. The study concludes that there is a need for visionary leadership in managing university faculty, integrating traditional academic values with innovative organizational practices, incentive systems, and employment policies. The findings provide a foundation for policy recommendations to enhance the higher education framework in Kazakhstan, addressing demographic pressures, brain drain, and the need for legislative changes to improve the working conditions and satisfaction of university faculty. Received: 13 March 2024 / Accepted: 25 July 2024 / Published: 05 September 2024