DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGY TO ENHANCE THRIVING AT WORK OF LECTURERS IN PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN ZHENGZHOU CITY, CHINA

Thriving at work plays a pivotal role in both the personal development of lecturers in private universities and the sustainable growth of higher education institutions, yet targeted research in this domain remains insufficient. This study investigates the determinants of thriving at work among lecturers in private universities through a resource-based lens, with a particular focus on private universities in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China. The research aims to propose a strategy for enhancing lecturers' thriving at work in these academic settings. Employing an online questionnaire survey methodology, this study collected 523 valid responses from three representative private universities in Zhengzhou. We conducted data analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM) through SPSS 26.0 and Smart-PLS 4.0. The findings reveal that work resources, positive emotions, and flourishing significantly and positively influence thriving at work. We found that work engagement did not have any mediating effects between work resources and thriving at work. This study developed an evidence-based enhancement strategy and validated its effectiveness based on these empirical outcomes. The strategy proposed has significant impacts on various groups involved in Zhengzhou's higher education setting, particularly lecturers and administrative staff at universities.