The integral roles of supporting staff in bolstering academic performance: A qualitative study in Vietnamese higher education institutions

Abstract

This scholarly examination qualitatively probes the pivotal functions of supporting staff in enhancing academic performance within higher education in Vietnam’s Mekong region. The research design involved purposive sampling of 10 participants from two different higher education institutions in the Mekong region of Vietnam. Five were academic staff members, including lecturers and professors, and the other five were supporting staff involved in various departments like administration, human resources, and technical support. Participants were engaged in focus-group discussions, which were transcribed and analyzed thematically to elicit a nuanced understanding of the research questions. Utilizing focus-group discussions and semi-structured interviews, it provides deep insights into the intricate dynamic between academic and non-academic roles. The study emphasizes the multifaceted contributions of supporting staff who function as stress reducers, knowledge conduits, role integrators, infrastructural overseers, and administrative efficiency boosters, among others. It calls for policy modifications that recognize and exploit the varied roles of auxiliary personnel in higher education institutions. The study also discusses implications for stakeholders like institutions, staff, policymakers, and researchers, while suggesting potential areas for further exploration. This research enriches existing literature by offering a detailed understanding of supporting staff roles within the Vietnamese higher education context.

Keywords:

• academic staff
• higher education
• Mekong region
• performance
• supporting staff
• Vietnam

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Thanh Thao Le

Thanh Thao Le is a lecturer at Can Tho University, specializing in language skills courses. He also serves as an editor for Jurnal Komunikasi Pendidikan, an international journal managed by Universitas Veteran Bangun Nusantara. LE’s research interests include TESOL, educational policies, and classroom-based studies.

Hoang Yen Phuong

Hoang Yen Phuong is currently an associate professor at the School of Foreign Languages, Can Tho University, Vietnam. She carries studies on language teaching approaches, students’ learning autonomy, self-regulated learning strategies and teachers’ professional development. She published articles in different journals and is the editor of one Scopus-indexed book on alternative assessment in language teaching.

Trut Thuy Pham

Trut Thuy Pham is a lecturer at Nam Can Tho University, where she primarily teaches courses on language skills, translation, and interpretation. She is currently preparing for her Ph.D. studies, and her research interests focus on teacher professional development.

Anh Thi Nguyen

Anh Thi Nguyen is currently a lecturer of English at Can Tho University, Vietnam. His main research interests involve pre/in-service teacher training, teacher education and language teaching methodology, particularly in the field of Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT). Most of his publications on TBLT and English language teaching were oriented towards the development of a researched-pedagogy. An overarching goal of his research is to promote positive educational practices and experience exchange among researchers, teachers, and the like.

Thi Anh Thu Huynh

Thi Anh Thu Huynh is an English lecturer with a passion for language and literature. She holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from Can Tho University, Vietnam, and has extensive experience teaching English to university students. She is committed to helping her students improve their language proficiency and develop their critical thinking skills.

Huong Tra Nguyen

HuongTra Nguyen teaches French at School of Foreign Languages, Can Tho University, specializing in French as a Foreign Language Didactics. She holds a Master’s degree in Language Science from the University of Rouen, France, and a Doctorate in Language Science from the Free University of Brussels, Belgium. Dr. Nguyen’s research interests include French language didactics, action research, and linguistics research.