Professional development, work environment, and job satisfaction in higher education: Implications for teacher education

This study aims to examine the interrelationships among professional development, work environment, and job satisfaction in higher education, with a particular focus on their implications for teacher education in the context of Shenzhen, China. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving 384 university teachers across different academic ranks and disciplines. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed through descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression models to evaluate the effects of salary, work environment, and career development on job satisfaction. The results indicate that the quality of the work environment has the strongest positive effect on job satisfaction, followed by salary and career development opportunities, while transparent promotion systems, adequate institutional support, and collegial collaboration emerged as critical factors sustaining long-term faculty engagement. Overall, job satisfaction among university teachers is influenced by a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic factors, with the work environment playing a pivotal role; salary and professional growth opportunities, while important, are insufficient in isolation to sustain satisfaction. The findings highlight the need for higher education institutions to adopt a holistic strategy that integrates competitive compensation, supportive workplace cultures, and transparent career advancement pathways, as such measures are essential for enhancing teacher satisfaction, reducing turnover, and ensuring the sustainability of teacher education and higher education institutions at large.