Purpose : As India envisions becoming a developed nation by 2047, it is imperative to match global higher education standards by improving the quality of training and engagement of faculty members. Hence, this study aimed to create a novel model empirically testing the relationships among psychological climate (PC), job crafting (JC), and work engagement in higher education.

Methodology : The cross-sectional data were collected from a sample of 442 academics employed in 32 universities in India. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was applied to investigate the proposed conceptual model in higher education institutions.

Findings : PC directly predicted JC and work engagement. JC positively and significantly mediated the PC-work engagement association. A positive PC triggered the job-crafting behavior of academics, enabling them to go the extra mile and demonstrate high levels of work engagement.

Practical Implications : When academic institutions emphasize enhancing the PC, academics perceive that their well-being is a matter of concern, and they reciprocate by improving their teaching and research-related activities through JC, further leading to an augmented level of work engagement.

Originality : This study offered a novel model at the disposal of the higher education sector to have suitable policies nurturing the PC of academics, leading to JC and work engagement, which could be a key contributor to the sustainable development of the Indian higher education sector.

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