Emerging Trends in Higher Education Human Resources and Implications for Chief Human Resource Officers: A Delphi Study

Abstract

“Trends in education emerge, grow, and develop, and often become daily practice”. The human resources function must focus on creating a human capital system that can address trends that affect the operating environment of an organization. The future needs of human resource professionals in higher education are becoming more apparent given the uniqueness of the higher education professional landscape. In fact, very few programs have been established to train or educate human resource professionals for higher education. Lastly, useful publications and related literature designed solely for practitioners in higher education are rare. The purpose of this Delphi study was to identify emerging trends and related issues that will impact chief human resource officers (CHRO’s) over the next ten years in higher education and offer suggested strategies for addressing these issues. The researcher utilized the Delphi Methodology in conducting this study.

The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) to identify emerging trends in HEHR over the next ten years, (2) to identify the issues for CHRO’s regarding these trends, and (3) to identify the strategies for addressing these issues. Results from sixteen CHRO experts in higher education identified 58 trends and 126 associated issues ranked from Insignificant to Extremely Significant over a series of four iterative successive Delphi questionnaire rounds. This expert panel suggested strategies for addressing the 126 identified issues in higher education. A CHRO’s ability to effectively address these trends will have a significant impact on the perception of the HR functions’ efficacy and or performance scorecard amongst its higher education, campus constituents, and stakeholders.