Talent Management for Academics Within the South African Higher Education Landscape- A Conceptual Framework

Abstract

Talent management in higher education involves attracting, nurturing, and retaining academic talent given the changing nature of higher education. Academic talent management has evolved beyond conventional hiring and promotion procedures to include a comprehensive framework that harmonises individual academic development, performance, and engagement with institutional objectives. In light of the particular difficulties and dynamics of academic careers such as tenure, research output, teaching quality, and institutional citizenship this conceptual paper offers a paradigm for talent management in higher education. The framework incorporates essential elements that are specific to the academic setting, such as professional development, succession planning, performance management, onboarding, talent acquisition, and retention tactics. This study provides a conceptual model to help academic leaders, administrators, and policymakers create inclusive and sustainable academic talent pipelines by combining literature from higher education studies, organisational behaviour, and human resource management. Long-term academic excellence, innovation, and institutional competitiveness are the goals of the suggested framework.