Talent management practices for bridging the staffing strategy gap in a Gauteng-located higher education institution, South Africa

Talent management (TM) has emerged as a strategic imperative for universities globally as institutions compete for scarce academic and professional talent. Despite increasing attention to TM practices, many universities continue to experience staffing inefficiencies, weak recruitment systems, and limited workforce planning strategies. This study examines staffing practices as a core component of TM at a university in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Using a quantitative survey approach with a convenience sample of n=400 employees, data were collected from university employees who rated both the status and the importance of staffing practices on a five-point Likert scale. The findings revealed significant discrepancies between the perceived importance and current implementation of staffing practices. While respondents consider strategic staffing practices highly important for institutional performance, their implementation is rated only moderate to low. These findings highlight the need for universities to adopt integrated staffing strategies that align recruitment, workforce planning, and TM with institutional objectives. The study contributes to the literature on higher education human resource management by providing empirical evidence on staffing gaps and proposing a strategic staffing framework suitable for universities in developing contexts.