The Effect of Individual Characteristics through Individual Ambidexterity on Lecturer Performance

Abstract

Aims: This study examines the effect of individual characteristics on lecturer performance through individual ambidexterity, with a focus on lecturers at Private Higher Education Institutions under LLDIKTI Region II, Indonesia. Study Design: Quantitative explanatory research with a cross-sectional survey approach. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Private Higher Education Institutions (universities) under LLDIKTI Region II, covering South Sumatra, Lampung, Bengkulu, and Bangka Belitung, with data collected in 2025. Methodology: Data were collected from 500 non-civil servant lecturers selected using proportionate stratified random sampling. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with AMOS was employed to analyze direct and mediating effects among variables. Results: Individual characteristics have a positive and significant effect on lecturer performance and individual ambidexterity. Individual ambidexterity also positively affects lecturer performance and partially mediates the relationship between individual characteristics and performance. Conclusion: Strengthening individual characteristics and ambidexterity capabilities is essential to improving lecturer performance and sustaining competitiveness in higher education institutions. Universities need to strengthen the personal aspects of lecturers through self-development programs and encourage ambidexterity by providing facilities such as research centers, learning laboratories, publication funding support, and innovation forums, so that superior individual character can be manifested through effective exploration-exploitation.