Employment Programmes, Induction and On-the-Job Training as Predictors of Strategic Goal Achievement in Public Universities in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract This study examined the relationship between employment programmes, induction and on-the-job training, and strategic goal achievement in public universities in Southwest Nigeria. Anchored on manpower planning theory and Beck's cognitive development framework, the study adopted a descriptive survey and correlational research design. A sample of 600 academic and non-academic staff was selected from six public universities (three federal and three state) across three geo-political axes in Southwest Nigeria using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using two validated instruments the Questionnaire on Employment Programmes and Induction (QEP1) and the Questionnaire on Strategic Goal Achievement of Public Universities (QSGAPU) structured on a four-point Likert scale. Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to test both hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. Results revealed a significant positive relationship between employment programmes and strategic goal achievement (r = .405, p < .05), and a significant positive relationship between induction and on-the-job training and strategic goal achievement (r = .357, p < .05). Both null hypotheses were rejected. The study concludes that strategic and transparent employment practices, supported by structured induction and continuous on-the-job training, are critical determinants of institutional goal attainment. Recommendations include regulatory reform of the recruitment process in public universities, systematic induction frameworks for new staff, and sustained investment in on-the-job training to build institutional capability and drive strategic outcomes. Keywords: employment programmes, induction training, on-the-job training, strategic goal achievement, public universities, manpower planning, Nigeria,