Impact of Work Environment, Competence, and Job Satisfaction on Lecturer Performance in Postgraduate Programs: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

The performance of lecturers is a critical determinant of the quality of education and the success of postgraduate programs in higher education institutions. This study aims to examine the influence of work environment, competence, and job satisfaction on the performance of lecturers teaching in Master's and Doctoral programs at private universities in Medan, Indonesia. Using a quantitative approach and a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) methodology, data were collected from 255 lecturers across various private universities that offer postgraduate programs. The results reveal that both competence and job satisfaction have a significant direct effect on lecturer performance, while the work environment does not directly influence performance but has an indirect effect mediated by job satisfaction. Furthermore, job satisfaction is found to be a significant mediator in the relationship between the work environment and competence on lecturer performance. The findings suggest that enhancing job satisfaction and lecturer competence should be a strategic focus for university management to improve performance outcomes. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on lecturer performance and offers practical insights for improving the quality of postgraduate education in private universities.