Abstract:
Higher education institutions play a critical role in economic growth by moulding the
human capital necessary for driving innovation, change, and transformation. Despite
their critical role in contributing to the economy, these institutions are experiencing high
labour turnover, which subsequently impacts efficiency and productivity. Thus, the
global demand for highly skilled professional employees has significantly contributed to
the skills flight from Zimbabwe’s institutions of higher learning to other economies. This
study evaluated the mediating role of job engagement in the relationship between flexible work arrangements and employee empowerment within the Zimbabwean Higher
Education sector.
A quantitative research design was employed to collect data from a convenience sample
of 200 respondents in this sector. In addition to being quantitative, the researchers used
an explanatory case study and a cross-sectional research design for this investigation.
The data were analysed using the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation coefficient via
the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings reveal robust interrelationships amongst the variables, emphasising their substantial contributions to explaining the variances in the measured constructs. The findings of this study show a
significant relationship between flexible work arrangements, job engagement, and employee empowerment.
The findings suggest that university administrators should develop comprehensive, flexible work strategies to address the challenges faced by their personnel. Furthermore,
they should enhance the working conditions of their staff as a means of improving the
overall quality of higher education (HE). This study also offers insights for government
policies concerning the labour requirements of the higher education sector.
