Talent Management at a Higher Educational Institution in Kuwait: A Case Study Approach

Abstract

The higher education sector in Kuwait faces unique challenges in talent management impacting the attraction, development, and retention of skilled professionals. The purpose of this study is to investigate the talent management practices employed at a higher educational institute in Kuwait. Data collection involves in-depth, one-on-one interviews with twenty-five participants, using open-ended questions to gather detailed insights. The interviews are analysed using the NVivo™ version fourteen software. Key themes and findings include the influence of institutional vision and policies on talent management practices, internal and external factors facilitating and restraining talent management policy implementation, processes and criteria used to identify, develop, and retain talent, and the perceptions and contributions of stakeholders within the organisation. The findings reveal substantial challenges related to workforce diversity and professional development opportunities in regional higher educational institutes. However, clear human resources policies, effective communication, robust performance management systems, and strong leadership support emerged as critical enablers for successful talent management practices. This study highlights the need for clear talent management guidelines aligned with organisational goals, top management commitment, and effective mentorship programmes to overcome these challenges. For industry practitioners and leaders, the research emphasises the importance of confronting systemic biases, enhancing diversity and insertion initiatives, and fostering a supportive, inclusive organisational culture. Future research should include comparative studies across multiple higher educational institutions within Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council region, longitudinal investigations to capture the dynamics of talent management practices over time and expanding the participant pool to include more diverse groups, such as administrators, faculty, and students. This study contributes to the broader discourse on talent management in higher education, offering insights that could help Kuwaiti institutions improve their talent management strategies and ultimately enhance their academic and administrative capacities.