Affective Commitment of Academic Staff in Higher Educational Institutions

Abstract

The study established the level of Affective Commitment (AC) of academic staff of universities in Uganda. Academic staff from two universities, Uganda Christian University (UCU) and Kyambogo University (KyU), participated in the study. It was guided by three specific objectives: to establish the status of Academic Commitment (AC), to establish the perception of academic staff on their affective commitment, and to suggest ways of improving affective commitment among academic staff. The study utilised a model by Meyer and Allen to extensively discuss affective commitment. It was a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The population involved lecturers from the two universities. These were sampled using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and interview guide. This data was analysed at the univariate level using descriptive statistics means and standard deviations. Lecturers in the two universities indicated their moderately high degree of affective organisational commitment to their universities in their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. This study provides at least some evidence of how the affective commitment of academic staff can be devised to ensure organisation effectiveness. The university’s continued efforts should be geared towards improving work conditions, encouraging creativity and participation, ensuring satisfaction, and acting in ways that increase the affective commitment of academic staff to their institutions.