A Case Study Investigating Faculty Work-Related Quality of Life (WRQoL) and the Efficacy of the WRQoL Scale in a Medium-sized Private Gulf Higher Education Institution

Abstract

The study evaluates the Happiness Department initiative in a Gulf Higher Education Institute (GHEI). The Department seeks to create a state of wellbeing among the teaching faculty members by mitigating the identified key stressors. The objectives of the study were: (i) To determine the correlation between stressors and faculty perception of the Happiness Department. (ii) Propose amendments to the WRQoL questionnaire to assist administrators in testing program efficacy. (iii). We found that to boost happiness, schools should indeed focus on the identified stressors. This exploratory study design uses the predetermined WRQoL Scale. It was found to be an accurate measure of overall work satisfaction. However, we present an adaptive model. The adaptive model we propose may be better suited for Gulf-based institutions. Faculty members unanimously perceive that a happiness department should exist that is tasked with minimising the workplace stressors.