Strategic scholarly retreats offer academics a chance to step back from daily pressures and focus on career planning. These retreats, whether a full day or a few hours, provide time for reflection on research goals, teaching methods, and professional development. Regular retreats can lead to more impactful research, effective teaching, and a fulfilling academic career.
Build, by Tony Fadell, combines career insights and product innovation advice from the creator of the iPod and Nest thermostat. His book provides a blueprint for high-impact career choices, iterative development, and leadership, making it valuable for anyone interested in innovative design or who is looking for a radical perspective on academic career development.
Many academics avoid asking for help, fearing it signals incompetence. This reluctance often leads to longer struggles and missed opportunities for growth. Learn why asking for help in academia isn’t just acceptable – it’s essential for career development, and how building a network of mentors benefits both you and others.
Many academics feel pressured to pursue traditional research careers, but scholarship encompasses more than just research. Boyer’s model describes four distinct areas: discovery, integration, application, and teaching. By understanding these different types of scholarship, academics can build more fulfilling careers that align with their natural strengths.
When facing uncertain career decisions in academia, many scholars get stuck in analysis-paralysis. Discover how small, strategic experiments can help you gather real-world information to make more confident choices about research directions, institutional moves, and leadership roles.
In So Good They Can’t Ignore You, Cal Newport argues that true career satisfaction comes from building rare, valuable skills rather than “following your passion.” For academics, focusing on skill development rather than elusive passions fosters control, mission, and fulfillment in higher education careers, where impact and autonomy matter most.