This study aims to explore the effects of perceived organizational support on teacher competency of universities in China, as well as the mediating effect of professional identity and work engagement. To achieve this purpose, this study established a ...
This study aims to explore the effects of perceived organizational support on teacher competency of universities in China, as well as the mediating effect of professional identity and work engagement. To achieve this purpose, this study established a relevant research model and hypotheses based on prior research and sought to verify them. For hypothesis testing, a survey was conducted targeting 500 teachers from three public universities located in Jilin Province, China. Based on the collected data, descriptive statistical analysis, evaluation of the measurement model's fit, and structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis were performed. The results are as follows. First, perceived organizational support had a positive effect on teacher competency of universities in China. Second, perceived organizational support had a positive effect on professional identity of Chinese university teachers. Third, professional identity had a positive effect on teacher competency of universities in China. Fourth, perceived organizational support had a positive effect on work engagement of Chinese university teachers. Fifth, work engagement had a positive effect on teacher competency of universities in China. Sixth, professional identity had a mediating effect between perceived organizational support and teacher competency of universities in China. Seventh, work engagement also had a mediating effect between perceived organizational support and teacher competency of universities in China. These findings suggest that enhancing positive perceived organizational support is crucial for improving teacher competency in universities. They also highlight that developing a strong professional identity and promoting work engagement are key strategies for enhancing teacher competency. These insights provide an important foundation for developing policies aimed at increasing job satisfaction, supporting continuous professional development, and improving the overall well-being of teachers. Keywords: Chinese university teachers, Perceived organizational support, Teacher competency, Professional identity, Work engagement