Understanding Faculty Engagement in Higher Education: Literature Review and Future Research Agenda

Abstract

The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of faculty engagement research within higher education, identifying gaps and proposing suitable avenues for future exploration in this field. The study employs a systematic literature review approach, analysing 70 published research articles through content analysis methodology. The study’s findings highlight the absence of a conceptual framework for faculty engagement within higher education. It introduces a framework outlining diverse antecedents, consequences, mediators, and moderators of faculty engagement in higher education, while also outlining various models and theories from the reviewed literature. These findings offer an insight into the prevailing trends and research patterns in this domain. Finally, the study identifies key research gaps, presenting them as future research areas to be explored. This study can assist higher education institutions in comprehending the primary factors influencing faculty engagement and in devising strategies to enhance it within their respective institutions. Additionally, this literature review can serve as a fundamental reference and road map for senior management in both public and private universities, assisting them in formulating suitable faculty development strategies. The study utilized only two databases, exclusively targeting peer-reviewed journals, and was limited to accessing full-text articles. This study is a first attempt at conducting a systematic literature review of faculty engagement in higher education and to present a conceptual framework.