Comparison of motivation and job satisfaction levels of public employees participating and not participating in distance education programs: The case of Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University

In our evolving and transforming world, face-to-face education is gradually being replaced by distance learning systems. Employees may need to acquire new knowledge related to their job roles even after entering the workforce, in addition to the qualifications they possessed prior to employment. Furthermore, it may be necessary to periodically refresh previously acquired knowledge. In such cases, institutions and organizations facilitate the training of their personnel. These trainings are referred to as in-service training. This study aims to compare the motivation and job satisfaction levels of public employees who have and have not participated in in-service training programs offered through the Distance Education Gate (Uzaktan Eğitim Kapısı) platform. Within the scope of the study, research was conducted on public personnel working at Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University. The theoretical framework of the study is built upon the concepts of in-service training, motivation, and job satisfaction. In the final phase of the study, a quantitative research method was adopted, and data was collected through a questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using statistical analysis methods, and the perspectives of employees regarding the in-service training programs available on the Distance Education Gate platform, along with their levels of motivation and job satisfaction, were examined. As a result of the analyses, it was concluded that there is no significant difference in the motivation and job satisfaction levels between the employees who participated in the training programs and those who did not. This study presents significant findings aimed at understanding public employees' perceptions of the training programs offered on the Distance Education Gate and their levels of motivation and job satisfaction, thereby contributing to public administration policies.