Unlocking the Secret to Employee Retention in Private Higher Education

This study underscores the critical importance of employee retention in private higher education institutions, recognizing that talented and engaged staff are fundamental to institutional success and sustainable growth.The primary aim was to investigate the influence of professional development opportunities and work-life balance on employee engagement and retention, with employee engagement functioning as a mediator.A comprehensive survey was conducted among academic and non-academic staff, and 311 responses were deemed valid for analysis.Data analysis employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using SmartPLS, enabling the evaluation of hypothesized relationships.The results indicated that PDO and WLB significantly influence EE, which in turn strongly affects ER.Specifically, the direct effect of PDO on ER was not significant, but its indirect effect via EE was confirmed, highlighting the mediating role of engagement.WLB directly affects both EE and ER significantly.The study contributes to existing theoretical frameworks like the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model and Social Exchange Theory (SET), emphasizing engagement as a critical mediating factor.Future research should consider longitudinal designs, explore other potential mediators or moderators, and examine different cultural or organizational contexts for broader generalization.Practically, institutions are encouraged to invest strategically in employee development and work-life balance initiatives to foster higher engagement levels,