HRD Educators’ Views on Teaching and Learning

Abstract

The Problem The development of human resource development (HRD) practitioners and scholars in university-based courses and programs is a significant but underexplored area of research. No recent scholarship has addressed the views of those who teach HRD subject matter, the methods they use, or the challenges they face in their work. Moreover, although HRD is recognized as an international field, HRD education has not been examined with an international perspective. The Solution The purpose of this study was to examine HRD education as an international phenomenon. An overview of the research on HRD education is provided, and the results of a thematic analysis of interviews with 40 HRD educators who teach in higher education institutions in North America, Europe, and Asia at three annual HRD conferences in the United States, United Kingdom, and Taiwan are presented in four broad themes: the nature of HRD, contextual differences, curriculum, and teaching and learning. The Stakeholders This study will be of interest to those who teach and study HRD and develop curriculum for HRD courses and programs for higher education institutions and other organizations, as well as to those who hire HRD graduates.