The relationship between human resource practices and employee retention : at one of private university in Kedah

Employee retention continues to be a critical challenge for many organizations, including higher education institutions. In private universities, where operational success depends heavily on the commitment and continuity of academic and administrative staff, retaining skilled employees is essential for long-term sustainability. This study aimed to examine the relationship between key human resource management (HRM) practices namely compensation and benefits, training and development, and recruitment and selection and employee retention at one of the private universities in Kedah, Malaysia. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 180 respondents from both academic and administrative departments. The results revealed that all three HRM practices had a positive and significant relationship with employee retention, although the strength of these relationships varied. Collectively, these practices explained a modest proportion of the variance in retention levels. The findings offer valuable insights for HR practitioners and university leadership in enhancing employee retention strategies. Future research is recommended to explore additional HRM factors and to include a broader range of institutions for comparative analysis