Performance Evaluation of Teachers in Universities: Contemporary Issues and Challenges

Abstract

Achieving effective performance of human resources is primary goal of every organization. In this regard performance
management practice of human resource management provides the sound basis of evaluating and developing employee
performance in order to get enhanced organizational success. Similar to any organization, universities or higher education
institutions evaluates its employees/teachers performance for effective human resource management. Although, both teaching
and non-teaching (administrative) staff in universities play an important role in escalating institution’s performance, yet teachers
are considered to be imperative human resource of higher education institutions. Performance evaluation of teachers in terms of
their teaching and research outcome is the primary area of concern for any university and highly unaddressed issue in case of
universities in developing countries like Pakistan. The current research explores performance evaluation mechanisms of public
and private universities of Pakistan which they employ for their teaching faculty. The aim of this exploratory study is to
investigate the performance gaps of public and private universities of Pakistan by focusing teaching faculty performance. It
elaborates their performance evaluation procedures and strategies and unearths the influential factors and challenges which are
faced by these universities regarding performance evaluation systems. A case study research approach has been adopted by
the researchers in which one public and private university of Pakistan has been taken for case analysis. A combination of
quantitative and qualitative approach has been adopted for in depth analysis of performance evaluation issues in said
universities. Research has been undertaken by the methods of interviews and questionnaires, from teaching staff of universities
and results are analyzed for the basis of discussion. Research has shown that the factors like decreased motivation for
evaluation, least participation in decision making, organizational competitive culture, semester system norms, obsolete
performance evaluation method and lack of training for evaluating performance proves to be potential barriers for effective
performance evaluation system in universities of Pakistan. Proposals with their implications for both universities have also been
discussed in order to improve the system.