To what extent is workplace spirituality conceptualized in Higher Education? Workplace spirituality lacks conceptual definition.

Recognizing spirituality in the workplace and in higher education depends on how we define spirituality. To get connected correctly please add more information to what spirituality you are referring.

There are more than 70 definitions of workplace spirituality and scholars agree that the highly individual nature of the phenomenon adds to its complexity and diversity. Workplace spiritaultiy is also potrayed as different from 'religion' and spirituality per se. Workplace spirituality is regarded as a highly personal and philosophical construct that involves a sense of wholeness, connectedness and deeper values. Workplace spirituality recognises the inner life of employees.

Thank you for adding information to be clarified in exchanging perspective. I would like to share a micro view to answer your question.

To what extent is workplace spirituality conceptualized in Higher Education?

All individuals have values according to their personal philosophical perspective that colors the way they live. People can get in better touch with their own value system through the process of value clarification. The process of value clarification assists the individual in making choices and facilitates decision making, because he has better understanding of his own value systems and, therefore a better understanding of himself. For order in individual’s own life to exist, he must embrace clear values.

According to you "workplace spirituality recognizes the inner life of employees." Related to your perspective of spirituality I'm quoting Socrates saying Unexamined life is not worth living and Jean-Paul Sartre saying know the reason why you exist.

Therefore the metaparadigm of spiritulity is found in philosophy courses in higher education.

Florencia, aside from courses in which spirituality is embedded, my question really revolves around workplace/organizational spirituality in Higher Education pertaining to academic staff. The strive for wellness, a sense of community and transcendence.

Dear Esther Palmer

I'm giving same ideas regarding spirituality in academic or non academic workplace/organization

All individuals have values according to their personal philosophical perspective that colors the way they live. People can get in better touch with their own value system through the process of value clarification. The process of value clarification assists the individual in making choices and facilitates decision making, because he has better understanding of his own value .systems and, therefore a better understanding of himself. For order in individual’s own life to exist, he must embrace clear values. Still, I adhere to Socrates and Jean-Paul Sartre philosophies to have sense of wholeness, connectedness, deeper values, and transcendence. I need to examine life as an employee and I must be aware how and why I exist.

Hi, Florencia, you asked the question, "To what extent is workplace spirituality conceptualized in Higher Education?" This raises the very important issue of the nature of "spirituality." Can one attain spirituality in a vacuum? If critical aspects of spirituality have to do with a sense of meaning and values clarification, can you conceive of spirituality apart from relationships with others? I think not. It may be subjective but certainly not in isolation.

I do believe though that spirituality may be conceptually defined, though, like with other concepts, definitions may vary. Astin (2004) argues for spirituality to be given a central place in liberal arts education as every student has human consciousness and affective experiences, both critical to one's perception of spirituality. A thought for reflection is that if spirituality can be central to a liberal arts education, then faculty, at least, who are critical to such an education, can be part of a sense of workplace spirituality because it is something that would have to be cultivated and hence modeled.

To me the basic need for any part of education is to prepare students so to say human beings as a worthy member of the society.With the above end for the higher education when its environment & a working place creates calmness ,holy situation under the cover of spirituality student obviously may play an useful part not only in the progress of their education but may cor relate his development of his mind & the personality for spreading the fragrance of his career & achievement for the society.

Besides it has been observed that education instutitue & university some time have to place a problem of discipline in the areas of education .

In the placed of spirituality it helps to create & to understand the value of life & also creating a moral code of conduct in his entire behavior approach . 

The workplace spirituality literature indicate a steady increase in research about workplace spirituality especially in the fields of Organization Behaviour and Development. Scholars indicate that this is predominantly due to the modern employee becoming separated from their families and communities. They seek meaning and purpose in the workplace as well as increase community with others and that promoting workplace spirituality is the means to achieve this.

My initial question focused on Higher Education Institutions and more specifically academics as they represent a unique 'kind' of employee. Having been part of Higher Education as an academic for the past 18 years it is fair to say that academics want independence, flexibility, autonomy and many other such things for increased commitment to the institution. There is however increased pressure for Universities to perform and make profits and control through managerial practices is increasing.  Managerialism does not sit well with academics. 

Given the positive experiences of spiritual organisations of which increased commitment is one, will increased workplace spiritual (without the religious slant) in Higher Education Institutions actually lead to increased commitment among academics?

Is there a Filipino translation of workplace spirituality? Or should I asks the first two questions first: 1. What is spirituality in Filipino context? 2. What is workplace spirituality in Filipino context?

Is there a Filipino translation of workplace spirituality? Or should I asks the first two questions first: 1. What is spirituality in Filipino context? 2. What is workplace spirituality in Filipino context?