Enhancing Employee Engagement In Higher Education Through Effective Internal Communication Practices: A Toolkit For Success

<span style="color: #242424; font-family: 'Aptos Narrow', Calibri, 'sans-serif', 'Mongolian Baiti', 'Microsoft Yi Baiti', 'Javanese Text', 'Yu Gothic'; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve; background-color: #ffffff;">Despite extensive research on employee engagement, a gap exists in understanding its dynamics within higher education. This thesis aims to investigate the role of effective internal communication practices in enhancing employee engagement, specifically within higher education institutions. This paper focuses on the context of higher education, utilizing data from NC State University and the UNC System. This research identifies key areas of improvement in employee engagement by analyzing employee engagement survey results and internal communication surveys supplemented by focus group discussions. The findings reveal significant areas for enhancement, particularly in fostering a sense of organizational cohesion and communication effectiveness. Notably, only a minority of employees perceived a strong sense of unity within the institution, indicating a need for targeted interventions. Additionally, the analysis underscores the importance of tailored communication strategies, highlighting preferences for diverse communication channels and content customization. Based on these insights, this thesis proposes the development of a toolkit for communicators within higher education institutions. This toolkit aims to provide practical guidance and resources for enhancing internal communication practices to promote employee engagement. By addressing the specific challenges identified within the higher education context, this toolkit offers a comprehensive framework for improving organizational 3 communication and fostering a culture of engagement within higher education institutions. The toolkit was reviewed and improved through focus groups consisting of higher education internal communicators and human resource professionals. This research contributes to the growing literature on employee engagement by offering a nuanced understanding of its dynamics in higher education. By emphasizing the role of internal communication practices, this study provides actionable recommendations for higher education institutions seeking to enhance employee engagement.</span>