This study explored important issues and challenges regarding the advancement of HEIs based on the professional experiences of the staff in higher education institutions in Kachin State. According to this research, most of the important decisions in HEIs are still centralized. HEIs in Kachin State still do not have authority to develop their own curricula, recruit staff, or manage admissions, and they have limited administrative authority to enforce student academic regulations at their institution. Although there have been some recent reforms in the staff recruitment system, recruitment practices remain centralized. Exam and interview questions are not usually designed to assess candidates’ qualifications based on the job’s terms of reference. Problems also remain in the system of promotions; there are no clear guidelines to measure performance, or proper assessments that can lead to professional development of the institutions.
Promotion policies and procedures should be transparent. The research findings show that current performance assessment practices, the promotion system and transfer postings cause negative impacts on some employees. HEIs employees are transferred to different locations as a promotion, a punishment, or if they stay in one place for a long time. Many of the participants perceived that the transfer system is neither clear nor fair. For example, some are transferred to other institutions due to long years of service, but some remain at the same place although they have been living there for long time. Such practices of promotion and transferring affects individuals, communities, and the larger society in the respective regions. For instance, unqualified staff who have a low commitment or less interest in institutional development are being sent to HEIs in remote areas such Kachin State, while most of the qualified employees are kept in the HEIs of major cities such as Yangon and Mandalay.
Improving the quality of education of higher education institutions is directly related to staff development and training opportunities. Yet it is difficult for HEI employees from Kachin State to obtain further study opportunities compared to staff in other education institutions in Yangon and Mandalay. In addition, due to insufficient human resources, teaching staff become burdened with other administrative tasks such as gate keeping, phone duties, security duties, reception and organizing some sports events.
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