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Building Institutional Research Workforce in Postsecondary Education: Exploring Institutional Research Professionals' Conceptualizations of Their Professional Identities

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Title: Building Institutional Research Workforce in Postsecondary Education: Exploring Institutional Research Professionals' Conceptualizations of Their Professional Identities
Language: English
Authors: Nothando Sithulile Nkambule (ORCID 0000-0002-6155-7684), Ching-Hui Lin (ORCID 0000-0002-4785-2871), I-Hui Lin, Victor M. H. Borden
Source: Higher Education Policy. 2025 38(3):645-664.
Availability: Palgrave Macmillan. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail:customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: http://www.palgrave.com/us/social-science/education
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 20
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Institutional Research, Labor Force Development, Educational Researchers, Professional Identity, Postsecondary Education, Career Pathways, Job Development, Leadership, Empowerment, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Taiwan
DOI: 10.1057/s41307-024-00365-0
ISSN: 0952-8733
1740-3863
Abstract: To provide insights into how institutions can scaffold institutional researchers' construction of strong professional identities, we employed a qualitative approach, rooted in the constructivist paradigm, which involved conducting semi-structured interviews with 11 IR professionals regarding how they conceptualized their professional identities. Using thematic analysis, we constructed two themes: (1) facets of institutional researchers' professional identities and their related tensions, and (2) suggestions for developing the next generation of IR professionals. Findings revealed that IR practitioners hold multiple identities and suggested that establishing clear career paths, improving job-design, and providing leadership support were viable ways to retain the current IR workforce. We highlight policy implications regarding the need for a balance between workforce empowerment and professional identities. We call on Taiwanese policymakers to introduce a holistic approach to successful institutional research, fostering a culture of quality within higher education institutions.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1489473
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Building Institutional Research Workforce in Postsecondary Education: Exploring Institutional Research Professionals' Conceptualizations of Their Professional Identities
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nothando+Sithulile+Nkambule%22">Nothando Sithulile Nkambule</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6155-7684">0000-0002-6155-7684</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ching-Hui+Lin%22">Ching-Hui Lin</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4785-2871">0000-0002-4785-2871</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22I-Hui+Lin%22">I-Hui Lin</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Victor+M%2E+H%2E+Borden%22">Victor M. H. Borden</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Higher+Education+Policy%22"><i>Higher Education Policy</i></searchLink>. 2025 38(3):645-664.
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  Data: Palgrave Macmillan. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail:customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: http://www.palgrave.com/us/social-science/education
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  Data: 20
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Institutional+Research%22">Institutional Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Labor+Force+Development%22">Labor Force Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Researchers%22">Educational Researchers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+Identity%22">Professional Identity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Pathways%22">Career Pathways</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Job+Development%22">Job Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Leadership%22">Leadership</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Empowerment%22">Empowerment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Taiwan%22">Taiwan</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1057/s41307-024-00365-0
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  Data: 0952-8733<br />1740-3863
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: To provide insights into how institutions can scaffold institutional researchers' construction of strong professional identities, we employed a qualitative approach, rooted in the constructivist paradigm, which involved conducting semi-structured interviews with 11 IR professionals regarding how they conceptualized their professional identities. Using thematic analysis, we constructed two themes: (1) facets of institutional researchers' professional identities and their related tensions, and (2) suggestions for developing the next generation of IR professionals. Findings revealed that IR practitioners hold multiple identities and suggested that establishing clear career paths, improving job-design, and providing leadership support were viable ways to retain the current IR workforce. We highlight policy implications regarding the need for a balance between workforce empowerment and professional identities. We call on Taiwanese policymakers to introduce a holistic approach to successful institutional research, fostering a culture of quality within higher education institutions.
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  Data: 2025
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      – SubjectFull: Labor Force Development
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Researchers
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      – SubjectFull: Empowerment
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Taiwan
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