Enhancing Human Resource Management in Educational Institutions: A Study of Teacher Recruitment, Professional Development, and Leadership Succession

In the context of global educational reform, effective human resource management (HRM) has become essential for enhancing educational quality. Yet, institutions worldwide face persistent challenges in three critical areas: teacher recruitment, professional development, and leadership succession. This study investigates primary and secondary schools, universities, and vocational institutions across three representative Chinese regions, including the eastern coastal area (Zhejiang), the central region (Hunan), and the western frontier (Guizhou). Employing a rigorous mixed-methods approach, it combines quantitative questionnaires (300 teachers, 80 HR staff, 40 leaders), semi-structured interviews (25 participants), and case studies of six diverse institutions. By triangulating teacher needs, institutional practices, and regional policy constraints, the research systematically examines HRM challenges within China’s specific educational context, including the “Double Reduction†policy and vocational education reform. Unlike general HRM studies, it highlights China-specific issues, such as urban-rural talent disparities and the tension between traditional teaching practices and modern educational technology. The findings inform targeted strategies, enriching HRM theory with Chinese characteristics and providing practical guidance to improve institutional efficiency and educational quality.