Training Needs Assessment of Academic Teaching Staff in Faculty of Dentistry, University of Gezira, Sudan 2018

Training Needs Assessment (TNA) is a triangular term; training (any activities to gain knowledge, skills or change attitude), needs (the gap between current and desired or required) and assessment (process for identifying needs and placing them in priority order). Investment in training of Academic Teaching Staff (ATS) can achieve better performance. TNA is the right step to design an appropriate, cost-effective training programme with clear priorities setting to achieve specific knowledge, skills and practice. This study aimed to assess the training needs of ATS in Faculty of Dentistry, University of Gezira, Sudan by selecting competencies and suggested priorities. This study designed as a population survey to determine training needs of ATS using self-administered, validated and adapted questionnaire (self-assessment) compared to the job description. The questionnaire was distributed to all available 35 staffs. The response rate was 82.9% (29 respondents). Results showed an urgent need for all competencies except only three, they were considered as well. These were teaching, computer, and communication skills. The priority of TNA to improve ATS could be from highest to the lowest as follows: research, leadership, health professional education, managerial, community development, and finally teaching and learning skills.