Academic talent mobility in the building of an international education hub: A case study of retention and attrition in the digital transformation of a Hong Kong university

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanisms underlying faculty mobility during liberal arts university reforms, using L University in Hong Kong, China as a case study within the push–pull theoretical framework. Based on interviews with 24 faculty members who joined or departed during the period of digital transformation, the study examines patterns of academic turnover amid institutional change. The findings show that faculty departures are predominantly driven by “push” factors, particularly inadequate administrative support, excessive workloads, and perceived compensation inequities. In contrast, recruitment is largely shaped by “pull” factors, including access to resources, opportunities for collaboration, and supportive working environments. The results further identify a threshold effect of compensation equity, accompanied by marked disciplinary cultural differences: faculty in the humanities and social sciences place greater emphasis on academic autonomy and disciplinary identity, whereas data science faculty prioritize infrastructural capacity and innovation support. Additionally, digital transformation has amplified latent value tensions and cultural negotiations across disciplines. Accordingly, universities should implement differentiated talent management strategies, enhance discipline-specific support systems, and foster institutional ecosystems that balance resource equity with cultural inclusivity to sustain faculty stability and strengthen organizational attractiveness during reform processes.

Document Type: Original article

Cited as:

Wu, Y., Wu, S. X., & Guo, F. Y. (2025). Academic talent mobility in the building of an international education hub: A case study of retention and attrition in the digital transformation of a Hong Kong university. Education and Lifelong Development Research, 2(4): 193-203. https://doi.org/10.46690/elder.2025.04.04

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