Impact of Pay Packages and Institutional Incentives on the Instrumental Motivation of University Teachers: A Comparative Study of CUVAS Bahawalpur and FAST University, Pakistan

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of pay packages and institutional incentives on the instrumental motivation of university teachers, using a comparative analysis of Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS) Bahawalpur and FAST University, Pakistan. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was employed, and data were collected from faculty members through a structured questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. The study examined key variables, including pay package, research incentives, medical facilities, professional development, extra workload remuneration, and examination remuneration. The findings indicate that all institutional incentives have a positive and significant relationship with instrumental motivation. However, pay package emerged as the strongest predictor, followed by research incentives and professional development opportunities. The results further reveal a statistically significant difference between the two universities, with FAST University faculty demonstrating higher motivation levels. The study concludes that financial and research-related incentives are critical drivers of teacher motivation and recommends strengthening compensation and institutional support systems to enhance faculty performance and retention.