Internal motivation factors affecting university researchers’ participation in the Talent Mobility program

Abstract

The purpose of this research was (1) to compare the level of need for competence, need for autonomy, need for relatedness, self-efficacy in working with private sector, and a growth mindset of university researchers between those researchers who had participated in the Talent Mobility program with those who had not, and (2) to create a model of internal motivation factors affecting university researchers’ participation in the Talent Mobility program. The samples consisted of 323 university researchers and included researchers who had participated in the Talent Mobility program and those who had not. The data were analyzed using Logistic Regression analysis. The research findings were as follows: (1) The university researchers who had participated in the Talent Mobility program and those who had not were significantly different in the level of their need for autonomy, their need for relatedness, their self-efficacy in working with the private sector, and their growth mindset, but the level of need for competence was not significantly different between the two groups. And (2) The model of internal motivation factors affecting the participation of university researchers in the Talent Mobility program was suitable. The two factors that significantly affected university researcher participation in the Talent Mobility program were a growth mindset and self-efficacy in working with the private sector. Therefore, the relevant authorities should encourage the development of these two factors mentioned. When university researchers have increased in their level for these two factors, they will be more likely to participate in the Talent Mobility program.