The Role of Career Path and Talent Management in Improving Lecturer Performance: A Systematic Literature Review (SLR)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58812/wsbm.v4i03.3148Keywords:
Career Path, Talent Management, Lecturer Performance, Universities, Systematic Literature ReviewAbstract
Lecturer performance is one of the strategic factors in supporting the achievement of quality and competitiveness of universities. In the context of university human resource management, career paths and talent management are important aspects that can support the development of capacity, motivation, and achievement of lecturer performance. However, studies on these two aspects are still largely carried out separately and show variations in the context, indicators, and mechanisms of their influence on lecturer performance. This study aims to analyze and synthesize the results of previous research on the role of career paths and talent management on lecturer performance as well as identify research gaps and opportunities for further research development. The research uses the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method by following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The literature was obtained through searching several academic databases with inclusion criteria in the form of scientific articles published in the 2021–2026 period, discussing career paths or career development, talent management, and the performance of lecturers or academic personnel in the context of higher education. The results of the synthesis show that career paths and talent management in general have a positive role in supporting lecturer performance, although the strength and consistency of these relationships are influenced by the organizational context as well as individual and organizational factors. Career paths play a role through career planning, competency development, advancement opportunities, and organizational support, while talent management contributes through the process of identifying, developing, placing, optimizing, and retaining talent. The research gap was found in the limited studies that integrate the two variables in explaining lecturer performance specifically, especially in the context of private universities. Further research is suggested to develop a more integrative model by considering mediation and moderation factors as well as the characteristics of higher education institutions.
References
[1] Muhammad, M., Wibisono, C., & Rumengan, A. E. (2024). Determinants of lecturer performance: A multifactorial study at private university in Lampung. JPPI (Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Indonesia), 10(2), 466–477.
[2] Zamora, R., Madhakomala, R., & Hamidah. (2021). The effect of leadership effectivity, education and training and career development to the performance of lecturers at University of Riau Kepulauan Batam.
[3] Palupiningtyas, D., Sanusi, A., & Harsono. (2022). The effect of participatory decision making on lecturer performance through career development: A case study the performance of university lecturers in the LLDIKTI 6 area of Central Java. International Journal of Advances in Scientific Research and Engineering, 8(8), 38–46.
[4] Widodo, A. P., & Suwitho. (2023). Individual characteristic analysis towards career development and its impact on the lecturer performance at Technology University of Surabaya. Proceeding 1st International Conference on Business & Social Sciences (ICOBUSS), 96–1096.
[5] Bahri, S., Ashlan, S., & Mulyono, H. (2023). The impact of career development and job satisfaction on lecturer performance. Migration Letters, 20(8), 908–923.
[6] Thunnissen, M., & Boselie, P. (2024). Talent management in higher education. Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/9781802626858
[7] Abdullahi, M. S., Adeiza, A., Abdelfattah, F., Fatma, M., Fawehinmi, O., & Aigbogun, O. (2022). Talent management practices on employee performance: A mediating role of employee engagement in institution of higher learning: Quantitative analysis. Industrial and Commercial Training, 54(4), 589–612.
[8] Hartono, & Pravesti, C. A. (2023). Human capital and psychological empowerment in the career development of private college lecturers. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research.
[9] Smagina, O., & Stich, J.-F. (2025). Talent development in higher education institutions: Systematic literature review and research agenda. Human Resource Development Review, 25(3), 231–260. https://doi.org/10.1177/15344843251381389
[10] Kurniawati, E., Idris, I., Handayati, P., & Osman, S. (2021). Digital transformation of MSMEs in Indonesia during the pandemic. Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, 9(2), 316.
[11] Wahjudi, E., Armanu, A., Hadiwidjojo, D., & Solimun, S. (2024). Lecturer performance in focus: An extensive systematic literature review and analysis. SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 22, a2477. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v22i0.2477
[12] Chong, S. W., Lin, T. J., & Chen, Y. (2022). A methodological review of systematic literature reviews in higher education: Heterogeneity and homogeneity. Educational Research Review, 35, 100426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2021.100426
[13] Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., et al. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71.
[14] Ishartono, N., Halili, S. H. B., & Abdul Razak, R. B. (2024). A systematic literature review of the implementation of open education: In the Indonesian context. International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 36(1), 98–116.
[15] MacFarlane, A., Russell-Rose, T., & Shokraneh, F. (2022). Search strategy formulation for systematic reviews: Issues, challenges and opportunities. Intelligent Systems with Applications, 15, 200091.
[16] Ramaditya, M., Maarif, M. S., Affandi, J., & Sukmawati, A. (2022). Reinventing talent management: How to maximize performance in higher education. Frontiers in Education, 7, 929697. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.929697
[17] Anitra, V., Setyadi, D., Mintarti, S., & Adhimursandi, D. (2023). Determinants of lecturer performance and lecturer career development at Muhammadiyah Universities in Eastern Kalimantan. Migration Letters, 20(8), 52–66. https://doi.org/10.59670/ml.v20i8.5211
[18] Sunarso, S., Hidayah, Y., Firmansyah, A., & Arpannudin, I. (2024). Content analysis of Pancasila and Civic Education curriculum at the junior high school level in Indonesia: Philosophical perspectives in affirming civic identity. Jurnal Civics: Media Kajian Kewarganegaraan, 21(1), 98–106. https://doi.org/10.21831/jc.v21i1.63161
[19] Suyono. (2025). The effect of emotional intelligence, interpersonal communication, career development on lecturers' performance moderated by lecturers' achievement motivation in DPK in LLDIKTI Region 7 East Java. DiE: Jurnal Ilmu Ekonomi dan Manajemen, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.30996/die.v16i02.132063
[20] Kalit, D. R. S., Simanjuntak, M. D., & Barus, A. (2025). The effect of motivation, compensation and career development on lecturer performance at Sari Mutiara University of Indonesia. International Journal of Social Science, Educational, Economics, Agriculture Research and Technology, 4(10). https://doi.org/10.54443/ijset.v4i10.993
[21] Wahjudi, E., Armanu, A., Hadiwidjojo, D., & Solimun, S. (2024). Lecturer performance in focus: An extensive systematic literature review and analysis. SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 22, a2477. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v22i0.2477
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Alya Syifa Fadilla, Slamet Sutrisno, Hari Muharam

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.












