Scholarships, Employee Development, and University Performance: An Empirical Investigation in Saudi Arabian Universities

This research aims to explore the link between scholarships, employee development and university performance in the Saudi Arabian universities. The study, based on the human capital approach, examines the impact of scholarship opportunities on improved university performance, and whether this impact is mediated by its effect on university employee development. A quantitative research method was used with the data being gathered from the employees of the Saudi Arabian universities by using a structured questionnaire. The analyzed collected data were examined by using the Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to evaluate the measurement model, structural model and test the proposed relationships. The empirical results show that the impact of scholarships on employee development is significant and positive, as well as the impact of scholarships on the performance of the university. In addition, employee development has a significant positive impact on university performance. The mediation analysis also shows that the effect of scholarships on university performance is partly mediated by employee development, suggesting that these interventions not only have a direct impact on the individual's educational progress but also on the overall performance of the institution through the development of employee's knowledge, skills and abilities. The results underscore the strategic significance of the role of scholarship programmes as a means of developing human capital in Saudi higher education. The findings of the study can serve as a basis for the university administrators and policymakers to enhance the performance of the university and develop human resources in the direction of Saudi Vision 2030.

Scholarships; Employee Development; University Performance; Higher Education; Human Capital; Saudi Arabia; Saudi Vision 2030; PLS-SEM.

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