Title: Exploring teaching assistants' employment in higher education: a case of Qatar University

Authors: Othman Althawadi; Shatha M. Obeidat; Yara Ali

Addresses: College of Business and Economics, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar ' College of Business and Economics, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar ' College of Business and Economics, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar

Abstract: Within higher education, the employment of graduate teaching assistants has become an international phenomenon that deserves further investigation. The current literature on teaching assistants' experiences in higher education was reviewed with the aim of highlighting differences in the employment process of teaching assistants globally but this paper mainly reports on empirical research exploring these issues in a neglected region, the Gulf region, particularly Qatar. A survey was administered to 80 Qatari teaching assistants at Qatar University. The conceptual model was empirically tested utilising structural equation modelling (SMART PLS) to analyse the relationship between teaching assistants' employment practices and their intention to leave. Effective recruitment and selection and training and development both had a significant negative impact on intention to leave, the study failed to confirm a link between self-efficacy and intention to leave. This study was also able to provide a preliminary model to assess TA employment within higher education.

Keywords: higher education; graduate teaching assistants; Qatar; recruitment and selection; self-efficacy; training and development; intention to leave.

DOI: 10.1504/JGBA.2023.137470

Journal for Global Business Advancement, 2023 Vol.16 No.1, pp.107 - 131

Received: 15 Nov 2023
Accepted: 27 Nov 2023
Published online: 19 Mar 2024 *

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