University academics bear the mantle of not only advancing knowledge through their research but also shaping the minds of future generations of society. The dual objectives of enhancing research quality and boosting student satisfaction are…
This is by far the most common reaction when discussing the scholarly outputs of an academic, or an academic department. Writing is seen as a potential luxury that has become an inconvenience. Of course, it’s…
A review of research literature is a useful thing to do. It helps us understand what the current thinking, developments and practices are with regard to a particular subject area. The process of creating the…
Conference workshops are perhaps one of the best well-kept secret of successful academic faculty. In terms of professional development and academic excellence, conference workshops stand out as a cornerstone for fostering collaboration, enhancing networking, and…
Well, this is the tenth edition of The Productive Academic – how time flies! I thought that this would be a good time to briefly review the topics that have been covered so far. If…
In academia, research transformation is a crucial goal for universities seeking to stay at the forefront of knowledge creation. Academic managers, responsible for leading and motivating staff, can face the challenge of dealing with disengaged…
To an outsider it might seem crazy, but it is common for university academic faculty to keep their research separate from their teaching activities. This separation is becoming increasingly reinforced by universities, who are responding…
Academic faculty are increasingly expected to produce high quality research outputs at a significant volume. Publishing research results is vital for successful careers in academia. But as many faculty know, academic journals with excellent reputations…
Academic departments and their faculty are assumed to be innovative. In an environment where students are constantly learning and research activity is externally funded, innovation is expected. Such an environment actively seeks out change to…
Contemporary faculty have considerable workloads, especially those employed in teaching intensive universities. Institutional strategies often include Performance Indicators such as quality of student experience, volume of income generation and quality of research outputs. These performance…
Learning and managing academic and research staff in universities can be challenging. “Herding cats” is a common description of the role. But what if you need staff to change how they work? What if there…
Writing academic articles is time-consuming. Let’s see how we can guarantee that an article is rejected by a journal publisher. As an academic it’s important to build a solid track record of high-quality journal publications….
Contemporary academic roles require university faculty to dedicate a significant proportion of their time to student learning and assessment. Simplifying your assessment strategy reduces the assessment burden for you and your students. Done correctly, it…
One of the most common problems that academic staff face is finding the time to write for publication. Academic institutions often have performance indicators written into their strategy statements that reflect the publishing ‘productivity’ of…
Dear Past Self, As an academic, you are constantly driven by the pursuit of knowledge, seeking to make meaningful contributions to your field through rigorous research. However, I know that the journey can often feel…
In the pursuit of academic excellence, research productivity and impact play a pivotal role. Academic managers, responsible for shaping and supporting research endeavours, sometimes encounter failures in their efforts. This article explores the lessons learned…
Creating a positive research culture in a teaching-intensive university in the UK requires a multifaceted approach that involves fostering collaboration, providing support, and recognising and rewarding research achievements. Here are some steps you can take…
University academic staff are constantly required to continually improve the quality of their research, while also soliciting income from external funding agencies. Surely it makes sense to focus on research activities so that your performance…
Reward and recognition can be effective strategies for motivating and engaging university research staff. Here are 5 ways managers can utilise these approaches: 1. Establish Clear Criteria For Recognition Develop clear and transparent criteria for…
Research growth is accelerated by acquiring external funding. Both research quality and volume increases as the additional income can fund specialist equipment and staffing to build greater research capability and capacity. However, not every academic…