Measuring the Return on Investment (ROI) through an integrated framework: A case of academic staff training and development interventions in South Africa

This study aimed to develop an integrated framework for measuring the ROI of T&D interventions for academic staff in South African public universities. Measuring the ROI and impact of T&D on employee performance is critical for demonstrating value. T&D professionals face increasing pressure from top management to show tangible business benefits for their interventions. An interpretivist approach was adopted using qualitative methods. Fourteen participants were purposefully selected from six universities, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), and the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDPSETA). Data were collected through interviews and document analysis and were analyzed thematically. Four themes that emerged from data included T&D interventions, management of interventions, support for interventions, and ROI measurement. Universities assessed impact at multiple levels (reaction, learning, behavior, and results) but did not fully implement Phillips’s ROI methodology. While some ROI elements, such as training costs and benefits, were considered, government institutions supporting universities did not directly measure ROI but expected universities to evaluate interventions against set objectives. The study provides an integrated ROI framework suitable for T&D interventions in South African public universities. It provides practical recommendations for improving ROI measurement and accountability and suggests directions for future research.