Academic Promotions Policy: An evaluation of HEIs in Zambia

The value and status of Promotion policies in HEA accredited HEIs

Abstract

The study aimed at establishing a baseline for Academic Promotions Policy status in
Zambia, stakeholder awareness of HEA standards, and institutional Academic Promotion Policy
compliance to the prescribed national standard. Two theories undergirded this study: Career
lifespan and Hierarchy of needs. An inclusion and exclusion criteria was used to arrive at the
sample of 15 drawn from HEA-accredited HEIs and then purposive sampling was used to identify
relevant respondents. The qualitative study found that most public institutions, compared to
private, were aware of the HEA standards. Further, the inquiry found that generally, HEIs only
became fully aware of the HEA standard in mid-2024, although validation, dissemination, and
sensitization commenced in 2020 or earlier. The study also found that 67% of HEIs possessed an
institutional academic promotions policy while 80% were aware of the existence of the HEA
national standard template. 93% of respondents demonstrated knowledge of the value of the said
policy. 67% had a full professor on their team while the rest did not. The study concludes that
further by stakeholder sensitization is essential. The inquiry also concludes that the absence of
clear academic promotion policies in HEIs has probably negatively affected innovation and
research productivity in Zambia. The study recommends that adherence to the proposed minimum
standards be enforced by HEA effective 2024 onwards. The study also recommends that
intentional ongoing stakeholder sensitization be undertaken and that HEIs generate policies to
foster transparency and objectivity at each institution. Further, the study recommends that the
government should encourage continued upward rank mobility within HEIs.