Training needs optimization for lecturers’ upskilling using mathematical programming models: A thematic review

Nur Syahirah Ibrahim; Adibah Shuib; Zati Aqmar Zaharudin.

"Learning all your life long" is widely applied in the educational field and serves as the impetus for numerous initiatives taken by educators to enhance their professional development strategies in teaching. Course training of lecturers for upskilling is one of the strategies in enhancing the quality of teaching and expertise to deliver the knowledge to the students to ensure the quality of the educational process is in line with the standards that have been set by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Malaysia. In consequence, training is essential as a performance improvement tool to achieve the expected competency level and preferences satisfaction in assigning lecturers to courses in higher education institutions. However, training needs analysis for lecturers is rarely discussed, especially in terms of lecturers upskilling by attending relevant training courses for teaching respective courses. Besides, based on literature review, limited studies were found on the allocation and assignment of lecturers for training. For this reason, this paper presents a review of various types of training allocation models developed by past research in dealing with various types of problems in enhancing the better allocation of services in specific fields. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis for enhancement of the existing training models and guides for new approach in solving the developed models. This paper proposes that in order to minimize or reduce the training cost for lecturers' upskilling, only identified lecturers that require skills improvement for better competency and those who seek for better satisfaction in terms of courses assigned to them are potential candidates for further training. Training needs analysis and implementation, which can produce skilled educators with enhanced satisfaction level in teaching which contributes towards top quality higher education.

KEYWORDS: Training needs; higher-level education institution; lecturer-course assignment; competency; preference satisfaction



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