Faculty Development in a Private University in Kenya: Faculty Perceptions on What is and What Should Be

In a context where facultyi development programs are non-existent, this study was conducted to examine the possibility of establishing a faculty development program in a private university in Kenya. The study explored faculty views on what they envisioned would be the program’s goals and purposes and their work-related challenges. Data was collected from all full-time faculty using a survey instrument distributed through Survey Monkey. Our findings show that junior faculty with limited work experience in arts and social sciences, business and education and disciplines were more positive about the program. The faculty were more likely to support the program if its goals and purpose focused on their career aspirations in terms of excellence in teaching and scholarship. Professional-related challenges that were identified related to lack of skills to teach effectively, undertaking and publishing rigorous research and securing competitive grants. The findings suggest that incipient faculty development programs would be successful if they targeted junior and less experienced faculty and were built around their career aspirations