Thriving on Emotional Intelligence for Enhancing Equitable Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

The study highlights academics’ potential to appraise, regulate, and utilise their emotions effectively when encountering stressors brought about by adversity. Respondents indicate that the HR department should proactively foster evidence-based, relevant, and academic-specific HR data-driven approaches. Emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in addressing economic inequality thereby contributing to a supportive and inclusive academic environment. Emotionally intelligent academics are better equipped to understand and empathise with diverse experiences and challenges faced by peers, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. By promoting a culture of empathy, collaboration, and fairness, universities can empower academics to reach their full potential and reduce economic inequality. A quantitative approach was utilised and a sample size of 360 academics from a population of 1226 was drawn from five campus sites at the University of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa using Stratified Random Sampling. Recommendations amongst others, for fueling academic emotional intelligence proposed for higher education, consist of, fostering an emotionally intelligent organisation and policy formulation through equity, diversity and inclusion.