Employment contracts renewal policy and academic talents in the University of Cape Coast: A critical discourse analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47963/jobed.v13i.1795Keywords:
Fixed-term employment, academic talents, University of Cape Coast, critical discourse analysis, employment contract renewal policyAbstract
The paper evaluates the employment contract policy and how it regulates the employment of academic talents at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. A qualitative research approach, the paper employed the symbolic ethnographic methodology, and the critical discourse analytical tool was employed to analyse the qualitative text produced from two employment contract renewal letters. The analysis revealed that the practice is a problem being sustained by both the authorities of the university and the academics. The analysis further reveals some unfavourable HRM practices, with possible solutions identified and recommended, therefore activating the problem-identification and problem-solving powers of CDA. The study recommends that UCC amend its statutes to discontinue the policy, or a lump sum should be paid at the end of a contract term comparable to some fixed-term office holders in the country. The paper contributes valuable literature and has policy implications for the university authorities and the government on the management of the employment status of PhD-holding university lecturers.
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