Enhancing faculty retention: The role of student initiatives, mentorship, advocacy, and collaboration

Type of the article: Research ArticleIn a rapidly evolving digital landscape, higher education institutions face increasing challenges in faculty retention. The study analyzes the impact of Student Initiatives, Mentorship, Advocacy, and Collaboration on faculty intention to stay through the mediation of faculty satisfaction. The research process began with an exhaustive review of existing literature and the development of a structured questionnaire using a quantitative approach. A further survey was undertaken by collecting 390 responses from faculty members working in higher education institutions in Karnataka, India. The mediation was analyzed utilizing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to check the model fit and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to test hypothetical relationships. Results revealed significant direct effects of Student-Led Peer Mentorship, Advocacy Groups, Student Initiatives, and Collaborative Learning on faculty satisfaction. These constructs also significantly predicted faculty retention, both directly and through the mediating effect of faculty satisfaction. Faculty satisfaction mediated these relationships, with the strongest total effect for advocacy groups (β = .537). While collaborative learning had a strong direct effect (β = .347), its mediated impact was comparatively weaker (β = .082). This study highlights that institutions that recognize and value the connection between student engagement and faculty engagement are poised to develop a strong academic community. The practical significance of the current study is considerable for institutional decision-makers and academic leaders. Institutions should not rely on just extrinsic rewards, such as salary or tenure, to be able to develop their faculties, but rather should intentionally develop a participative academic culture.Acknowledgment The authors acknowledge financial support for the Article Processing Charges (APC) from Yenepoya (Deemed to be University).