Factors Shaping Faculty Collaboration: A Case Study from a Resource-Constrained Setting

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 3:45 pm - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Prominent Considerations in Faculty and Research Collaborations

Abstract

Addressing a gap in research from resource-constrained contexts, this qualitative case study explores factors influencing faculty collaboration within Ethiopian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Focusing on one research-intensive and one teaching-focused public university, data from 30 faculty members, nine leaders, and institutional documents were analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings indicate that positive attitudes toward collaboration, collectivist cultural values, and institutional policies provide a foundation for collaboration. However, collaboration is impeded by individual-level barriers (e.g., low intrinsic motivation, job dissatisfaction), team-level challenges (e.g., unequal workloads, distrust, ineffective leadership), institutional constraints (e.g., limited funding, bureaucratic obstacles), and socio-political tensions (e.g., political polarization, ethnic divisions). The study underscores the necessity for context-sensitive interventions that leverage cultural strengths while addressing socio-political and institutional challenges.

Author

• Samuel Getnet Abate, The Education University of Hong Kong