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Article Title: Utilization of Continuous Professional Development for Academic Staff Effectiveness in the Higher Education Sector in Contemporary Nigeria
by Ofojebe, W.N. and Chukwuma, E.T.C

Abstract:
This study focused on Utilization of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for Academic Staff Effectiveness in the Higher Education Sector in Contemporary Nigeria with focus on Colleges of Education in Delta State. The study also examined the benefits of CPD to academic staff, major areas for academic staff CPD, extent to which academic staffs� attend CPD and challenges / factors hindering effective utilization of continuous professional development (CPD) for academic staff effectiveness in the higher education sector. Four research questions guided the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted in order to carry out the study. The proportionate random sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 314 representing 50% of 628 academic staff from two Colleges of Education used for the study. A questionnaire titled: Academic Staff Professional Development Questionnaire (ASPDQ), which contained 27 items and designed on a 4 point scale was used to collect data for this study. The instrument was validated by two experts from the Department of Educational Management and Policy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. A pilot-test was conducted by the researchers on the instrument using 15 academic staff from one of the Colleges of Education in Warri, Delta State and thereafter having a coefficient �r� value of 0.88 using the Cronbach Alpha procedure to appraise the reliability of the research instrument. Data was equally analyzed using the mean score at 2.50 rating and standard deviation. Consequently, from the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that: Colleges of Education in Delta State be adequately funded and financed for utilization of continuous staff professional development; and constant in-service and on-the-job training programmes should be organized for staff for their effectiveness and efficiency. Importantly, this study whose purpose was to investigate the utilization of continuous professional development for academic staff effectiveness with great significance to all stakeholders in education that included: policy makers, school administrators and leadership, teachers, students and regulatory agencies; has potential impact in promoting teacher efficiency, work commitment, better job performance and high productivity leading to effective instructional delivery and best practices. This would also boost high and quality standards at the colleges of education because the academic staffs� are important elements in education whose effectiveness counts in order to achieve quality education in the system.

Keywords: utilization, continuous professional development, academic staff effectiveness, productivity, work commitment, better job performance

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