Our 9th Middlesex writing bootcamp
Reports on the July 2024 retreat that I organised for Middlesex University. Includes links to a large variety of public resources on academic careers
This was our 9th boot-camp at Middlesex University. We were thrilled to be back at Cumberland Lodge, a place where we had such memorable events in January 2018, July 2018, July 2019, July 2022 and July 2023. Although our online bootcamps during the pandemic sort of worked, there is nothing like face-to-face meetings to re-invigorate both research and research culture.
Cumberland Lodge provides an amazingly beautiful and very relaxed space for colleagues to interact and for us individually to work on our research. I feel re-energised and more motivated to work on my research, and my research leadership, following this bootcamp.
This year featured the most changeable weather we have ever had at Cumberland Lodge. There was lots of rain (26mm on our first day), lots of wind on (causing wild hair in the group picture above), and only a brief period of sunshine and blue sky late Saturday afternoon. We also had a changeable group composition, with three people only able to join us after our first picture was taken. Hence, we managed to take another one (see below) on Sunday morning just before the heavens broke again.
In eras of gloom, being hosted in a royal residence, and treated like royalty, makes you feel incredibly lucky to be working for an institution that values you enough to send you on such a retreat. It also reminds me of the unique collegiality and shared values of my MDX colleagues. The team spirit and institutional loyalty generated surely must be priceless.
When I came to my first Cumberland Lodge event, I was so impressed by what the university was offering to us researchers. It signalled that research and we as research active staff are valued by our employer.
Table of contents
This is a very long blogpost with lots of pictures. I hope you will enjoy perusing all of it. However, you are also welcome to dip in and out individual sections that are of interest to you. The links below will help you to do this.
The calm and quiet surroundings, the fact that I don't have to clean, cook, and do all the myriad other things that make up the constant background noise of a woman's life, meant that I could focus entirely on writing.
The location: second to none
Cumberland Lodge is located in extensive grounds in Windsor park. It has beautiful bedrooms (some with four-poster beds) and spacious conference rooms with natural light and amazing views to the gardens. It makes such a difference from the artificial and dreary hotel conference rooms that we are all used to. These rooms are sealed from the outside and their airconditioning makes you sick.
In addition to the conference rooms, the Lodge also has a wonderful sitting room, drawing room, tapestry hall and library (see pictures) that can all be used by guests if they like a bit of peace and quiet for small group meetings or quiet reflection. The pictures later in this post show how everyone made excellent use of them.
I felt so privileged to have been able to stay at Cumberland Lodge as part of my experience of working at Middlesex. I shall miss Cumberland Lodge greatly, but I'm so thankful we were able to spend quality time in this wonderful space.
Because meals and cleaning are taken care of, we feel valued as researchers, and we can focus on writing. The retreat allows the time and space, both physically and mentally to focus our energy on writing. The nature and abundance of different rooms and environments to write in help not feeling drained or stuck and help with inspiration.
The escape from the city and work creates a mindset capable of engaging fully with the research. Being at home or on campus comes with a variety of distractions which were negated at Cumberland. The shared focus on research also helped drive motivation and keep us on task.
The progress I made on writing my research papers was entirely down to being in a different environment surrounded by those with similar goals. The ability to work in a peaceful space outside on London without having to commute every day was invaluable.
Flexibility within a supportive framework
In the early years, our boot-camps focused mostly on article writing. We followed a fairly structured format, with sessions on journals as communities, crafting memorable, descriptive and easy-to-read titles and abstracts, creating polished introductions and conclusions, using references strategically and writing a letter to the editor. If you are interested in running your own event along these lines, you can still find this format described in detail in the July 2022 event post.
It was great to be with colleagues all working towards similar writing goals. Having that collective drive, encouragement and support was fantastic. We were all there to achieve and to advance our writing goals and the structure of the event was well designed to help us reach that without undue pressure.
Since 2023, however, the key theme of our bootcamp has been flexibility, embedded within a supportive framework including both resources (see next section) and on-site mentors. With free copies of my four books in the Crafting your career in academia series and online support available any time on my YouTube channel and our Faculty Professional Development Gateway, we decided to make the most of our time at Cumberland Lodge and give participants as much time as possible to engage in actual writing in a peaceful and inspiring environment. This shift seems to have been appreciated by all.
Not having to worry about catering, being in a beautiful environment where we can easily take an effective break and return to work, and being surrounded by other motivated researchers who feel valued by their institutions, are all factors in the success of the event.
Resources available to anyone at any time
During the pandemic years, I recorded the boot-camp presentations (see this YouTube playlist, also linked above). The slides for the bootcamp were also converted into my blogpost series How to avoid a desk-reject in seven steps in 2020 and my Publishing in academic journals book in 2022.
Other resources on topics such as research funding, research impact, promotion applications, and social media profiles are now also available online and/or in book format (see relevant books below). A summary of these resources distributed during the boot-camp is here. Note that any links to our Middlesex Professional Development Gateway are only accessible for Middlesex academics. Here is a summary of the publicly available resources:
- Research funding: blogposts with tips on funding applications and presentations from colleagues successful in getting research funding.
- Research impact: My 2023 book on Measuring and improving research impact, my white paper Research Impact 101, a presentation on "what is impact and why should you care", and this series of 1-5 minute shorts on getting cited (ethically!).
- Promotion applications: My 2022 book Writing effective promotion applications, CYGNA meetings on climbing up the academic career ladder, internal versus external promotion, and diversity of academic career paths, and my recent presentation on preparing for promotion.
- Social media profiles: My 2023 book on Creating social media profiles, a series of 1-5 minute shorts on the what, how and why (not) of social media in academia, and a series of 1-5 minute shorts on how to create key social media profiles in little time.
I have to give kudos to Anne-Wil for the fantastic online resources provided; they have truly taken the experience to the next level. I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to have spent such a productive weekend.
A great big thank you to Anne-Will for once again organising a great event! This has been the highlight of my working year.
Relevant career guides
My book series Crafting your career in academia launched in August 2022 with a book on Writing Effective Promotion Applications. The series is a collection of short guides dealing with various aspects of working in academia. It is based on my popular blog.
Aug 2022: Only £5.95... |
Nov 2022: Only £5.95... |
Feb 2023: Only £5.95... |
May 2023: Only £5.95... |
August 2023: Only £9.99... |
Dedicated mentor support
As always, we had ensured that dedicated mentor support was available for every paper and funding project. Our mentors Anastasia Christou, Andrea Werner, Karen Duke, Tim Freeman, Paul Gooderham, Erica Howard (joining us as emerita professor), and Stephen Syrett all invested significant time in providing tailored feedback.
Thank you all for your dedication! Paul Gooderham, who - having attended nearly all previous events as a mentor - claimed last year that the 2023 event was the best ever. He maintained the 2024 event had even exceeded that 😊.
I had a long meeting with my mentor. We walked through the woods and over fields for two hours discussing how to generate research impact, how to shape my career and how we want to work together in our mentor-mentee relationship. We would never have been able to do this on campus.
The input and discussion I had with my mentor was invaluable in helping me focus on immediate achievements within the time at the bootcamp and to take forward and advance my writing over the next few weeks.
The bootcamp has been extremely beneficial. It has extensively enhanced my knowledge about funding applications. As an ECR, I received some clear indications about funding, particularly who are the right funding bodies for me at this stage of my career.
The space and time that was provided, along with the supportive environment and easy access to colleagues and mentors created an opportunity to engage in the type of research focused work that is central to the creation of publishable work.
Extremely valuable meeting with the mentor assigned who was able to have 1-2-1 meetings on promotion applications and her experience and guidance. I had the space and time to work of a new idea for an article and I completed the abstract and wrote 2500 words.
As a mentor I found the bootcamp very useful for sustained conversations with mentees over a 2-3 day period. Significant progress was made with two high potential papers.
I had very productive meetings with my mentors and senior colleagues mainly about applying for funding. I haven't applied for funding before so their vast knowledge and experience in this area helped me to build a plan for my next project and start designing the research in preparation for funding application.
The discussion with my mentor also highlighted the need for further primary research. My mentor advised me on applying for small research grants to carry out this research, which I intend to do in the next 12 months.
Opening key-note on resilience in complex times
On Friday evening, we started out with a thought-provoking keynote speech by Tunc Aybak who took us through a whirlwind of slides on the theme of Understanding Geopolitical Crisis and Building Resilience in the Age of Uncertainties, a perfect complement to last year's opening keynote on academic well-being by Athina Dilmperi.
Tunc's presentation was serious in content, but very light-hearted in its delivery. It involved a surprise monkey (see the image below) and a box in which we were all invited to throw our scrunched-up paper ball answers to some of his questions. He asked us to reflect on what we wanted to be as children and what the most significant geopolitical events in our lives had been. Many of us shared our answers with each other during dinner that night, providing a natural way to get to know each other better.
One of my research interests is International Business that is increasingly concerned with the impact of geopolitics: the event brought me in contact with one colleague in particular who has a specialism in international politics. I found our discussions very useful.
The full slides are available only to Middlesex colleagues, but the two images below capture the spirit of it. The left-hand slide shows part of Pieter Bruegel's painting Triumph of Death. The right-hand picture refers to Victor Hugo, the 19th century French novelist, who captured a positive and rather uplifting way to view and manage uncertainty: "Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings."
Tunc's beautiful finale: "I believe we are all birds on frail branches but we carry on singing knowing that we also have wings…the wings of courage, creativity, an imagination. We will not stop fighting for and believing in a better and more meaningful world.", was followed by a profound discussion about the meaning of universities and the role of research in it, a perfect framing of our weekend.
Writing and working walks
The bulk of the time at the bootcamp consisted of participants working very hard on their papers, and having meetings with their mentors. Many took the opportunity to have walk-and-talk meetings, which hugely contributed to both productivity and mental well-being.
The "walk around the cow-pond" (see right-hand picture at the end of this section), a 20-30 minute roundtrip was particularly popular. I took at least ten turns with different colleagues. However, others explored the longer Copper Horse walk (see Walk to Windsor below) or even made it all the way to Victoria Waters on a two-hour walk with their mentor.
The bootcamp provided numerous key benefits for improving my personal research outcomes and academic skills. Firstly, the dedicated time and focused environment allowed me to make significant progress on my paper.
The three Cumberland Lodge retreats I attended accelerated my research outputs to an extent that I hardly believe myself. I literally achieved over the space of a weekend what would usually take me weeks if not months.
At this year's retreat I finished writing a book review, and came up with an idea and outline for a conference paper, plus I found the research data on which the paper will be based. Prior to the event I'd been failing for weeks to come up with an idea for my paper.
Closing key-note on research through career stages
On Sunday morning participants continued to work on their papers and projects and caught up with the colleagues they hadn't yet spoken to. But after lunch, most had run out of creative energy for the weekend. Hence, on Sunday afternoon I kicked of the last session with a presentation on the ABC of navigating research through early, mid, and late career stages. The slides of the full presentation can be downloaded here.
It’s hard to articulate the value I’ve gained from my attendance over the last three years. Your talk on the three stages of an academic career made me think of the Lodge’s role in fast-forwarding my own. It really cannot be overstated.
I loved your presentation, Anne-Wil. It was very helpful to see the aspects you identified for ECR, MCR, and professors.
Although initially scheduled on Saturday, it felt like a good way to launch into our discussion of how we could support academics across these three stages. One thing we all agreed upon: there is no substitute for extended face-to-face contact.
In this era of online communications, getting together with colleagues in a setting that is conducive to excellent conversations across disciplines is extremely valuable. My store of social capital - networks, common understandings and trust - has increased substantially.
Walking to Windsor and watching the EURO 2024 match
I had been keeping a close eye on the weather forecast all of Saturday in the hope that we would get a brief period without rain before dinner for a walk to Windsor Castle. At 17.15 the rain finally cleared, and we set off through the fields. As more rain was predicted we took some umbrellas (see picture). A good thing that we did, as during the walk we had yet another shower.
The writing boot camp provided me with a rejuvenating and inspiring environment to work on my paper. The nature walks greatly contributed to my mental well-being. As an academic with a heavy teaching workload, this opportunity was both amazing and much needed after such a challenging period.
After a walk up the to the Copper Horse - portraying King George III in the style of Marcus Aurelius - (see picture above) we walked the entire "Long Walk" to Windsor Castle. There we met a couple on their second honeymoon who kindly took our group picture (see below). Moments after getting into the taxi back, the rain was lashing on the car windows again. We had been very lucky!!!
I find that the walks in nature with colleagues, bouncing ideas off each other, reliably help with generating, developing and refining ideas. Unsolvable problems, writing blocks, all of these also benefit from undisturbed, relaxed contact with colleagues and mentors.
Returning at the Lodge we walked into a particularly tense moment in the England-Switzerland match of the Euro 2024 European Football Championship, which fortunately ended well for England. Later that week they beat the Netherlands in the semi-finales and even ended up in the finale later in the week. Personally, I learned that my loyalties and national identity had definitely shifted. Despite not caring about football, I was cheering for England rather than the Netherlands (my birth country).
The soft networking approach was also incredibly beneficial as I felt I could talk with colleagues in a very relaxed way, with no pressure.
As the weather cleared up again, I had another stroll in the gardens until it was time for dinner. It was by far the best time of the weekend weather-wise and I got what I always wanted: longer legs! I really needed them. That day, my numerous "walks around the cow pond" with individual colleagues and the Windsor walk added up to more than 16 kilometres.
Informal discussions over mealtimes
A key part of the Cumberland Lodge experience is having meals and tea-breaks together. Over the two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners and four tea-breaks everyone had a time to get to know each other, both professionally and personally. This was a huge part of the success of the weekend; it built strong relationships that will provide continued professional and interpersonal support.
I have made some connections with a researcher in another department working on a similar topic (gender-based violence). We have not spoken of precise research projects yet, but at least we are on each other's radar if we want to start a collaboration. My participation last year had directly given rise to a grant application to an ESRC call.
I feel confident that should the opportunity for cross-disciplinary research arise, I would know who to approach, and that I've put myself on the radar of others who might be looking for a legal expert if they need on for future collaborations.
I also made several connections with colleagues from other departments who share similar interests and with whom I can envision possible future collaborations. Interacting with them in a relaxed environment help me determine if we could be a good fit based on our working styles with other teams.
As to teaching, we always learn a lot from each other at these events as we never stop talking shop over dinner, drinks, during walks, etc. I've garnered a number of ideas from others' practices that I am keen to try out in my sessions in September.
I like the working environment away from all the hustle and bustle of regular life. It has also been great to know colleagues across the departments and see how effortlessly they are working on their areas of expertise.
The most important aspect was getting to know other colleagues from the Faculty and discuss their research and academic journeys which are inspiring.
Do these boot-camps deliver?
Some Research Deans and Pro Vice Chancelors reading this post might wonder whether to invest in these activities in their own institutions. For them, an important question might be: do they "deliver the goods"? I run a feedback survey every year, which allowed me to write up analyses like this one in 2022. It also provided the source for the quotes in this blogpost.
Two recurring questions in this survey are whether participants made good progress on their writing project and whether their comfort in approaching colleagues had increased. The modal response to these questions has always been "strongly agree", varying over the years from 60%-70%. However, this year the "strongly agree" response was nearly unanimous (see below).
The flexibility and systematic support provided will certainly have helped with progress in participants' academic work. Adjusting the Saturday programme to finish at 5pm to accommodate the walk to Windsor or watch England play in the Euro 2024 might have had something to do the increased comfort in interaction across The Faculty. 😊.
I invite anyone to look at my research repository and note the dates of my outputs - you will see an astonishing increase in both quantity and quality of outputs since I first attended the Cumberland Lodge 3 years ago. I directly attribute these to the unprecedented productivity engendered at these magical events.
The event had more impact on my productivity than any conference I have ever attended, which often cost the respective university three times as much including fees, travel and accommodation.
The bootcamp has been the occasion for me to push towards a breakthrough on a paper and to finalise the questionnaire for a large, funded project. The collaborative atmosphere, the possibility to obtain rapid feedback and the focus on getting research done make it ideal conditions.
The fact that I was able to connect with peers and get to know them and their work better will likely result in future collaborations. For instance, I learned of a new funding bid that will target the same funder as ours. We decided to support each other and practice collegiality. Whereas we might not be able to collaborate on this particular funding bid, the process might nurture future collaborations.
In my presentations about our work at Middlesex for the British Academy of Management and Chartered Association of Business Schools, I have also argued the case for investment in staff development more generally based on hard metrics (see How to convince your institution?).
Increasingly though I think this is the wrong approach. As researchers we all know that it can be hard to unambiguously link cause and effect, especially with quantitative data. However, qualitative data suggest that my role in staff development more generally has led to a strong boost in staff morale (see slide below).
Ultimately, I consider this effect to be more important than the "hard metrics". Universities are only as good as the aggregate of their academics and better staff morale increases the likelihood of staff retention. A good staff development programme can also make it easier to recruit staff, especially for post-92 universities.
Although the current financial state of UK Higher Education is dire, it is my firm conviction that in the medium-term future the UK is heading for a staff recruitment and retention crisis, especially in Business Schools. If they want to survive, universities need to change their perspective on all aspects of Human Resource Management and put talent management and community building centre stage.
Staff development can play a major role in this. This was evidenced again this year in the feedback by our boot-camp participants.
We feel valued as researchers, and we can focus on writing. The Cumberland Lodge writing retreat allows the time and space, both physically and mentally to focus our energy on writing. The nature and abundance of different rooms and environments to write in help not feeling drained or stuck and help with inspiration.
Not having to worry about catering, being in a beautiful environment where we can easily take an effective break and return to work, and being surrounded by other motivated researchers who feel valued by their institutions, are all factors in the success of the event.
The way the bootcamp was hosted - lovely accommodation, nature, shared meals - took off a lot of the mental load I usually carry and allowed me to focus entirely on working on my paper.
This event enhanced my sense of community. Listening to various colleagues share their experiences about the challenges they face in conducting research and publishing in reputable journals was invaluable. I was also delighted to meet colleagues from the criminology and law department, who have a great sense of humour and a very welcoming attitude toward other disciplines.
Goslings: a staff development metaphor?
Having visited Cumberland Lodge at different times over the years allowed me to capture the young Egyptian geese at the cow pond at different stages of their development. I think the two pictures below - a few weeks apart - are a perfect metaphor for the importance of systematic and supportive staff development at universities.
Without it, junior colleagues may see the wider academic world as a bit scary. So they stay in their natural habitat (water), close to their parents/seniors for support (see above). With staff development they may still have some of their baby feathers, but are striding confidently into the wider academic world (see below). They are still together, but have now discovered their individual identity. They have also learned to be at ease with those different from them (see the ducks and coot).
Engaging with colleagues from diverse academic backgrounds through intellectual conversations provided fresh perspectives and collaborative ideas, which are crucial for interdisciplinary research.
This year I saw especially strong value in being able to meet with people from parts of the Faculty that I don't normally interact with, such as Law & Criminology. I invited one of them to join our Business Ethics, Accountability and Governance research cluster and I can see lots of potential for future research collaborations.
Do notice the three adult gees eat the back though, following at a small distance. They let the goslings find their own path. However, the goslings can still take comfort from the fact that their seniors - both their official parents/mentors and other members of the Middlesex family - keep an eye on them from a distance and are always there to help them with support.
The realisation of how approachable and willing to help our top research leaders actually are, have had a massive impact on my research output.
Speaking with my research mentor about my ongoing research and publication of my work was extremely valuable. As a result of our discussion, I have a stronger understanding about appropriate target journals.
The discussions on impact with two professors helped me to better understand the potential contributions of my research to both academic and non-academic audiences.
Early retirement: my last writing retreat
This was my last writing retreat before taking early retirement from Middlesex University, after more than a decade of work in the area of staff development. Hence, I have included - with permission - some of the lovely comments I received from Middlesex colleagues. My truly amazing colleagues are a huge reason for why I will always treasure my time at Middlesex University as the happiest time of my academic career. I look forward to our continued interaction as an emerita professor.
I will miss you and the work you do for our Faculty more than you'll ever know. Your expertise and commitment transformed the provision and support we have available for staff. The guidance, care, and kindness you have shown me, and all our colleagues is so important and valued, but very rare in academia.
You are, and will continue to be, a hugely important source of inspiration for me: your deep understanding of how successful research cultures are fashioned and how academic career development can be sustained points to so many lessons for Middlesex.
There are few academics who invest so much of their time and energy voluntarily in building up those who come after them, you are an exemplar of this approach and its one this sector desperately needs.
I cannot think of anybody who has given so much of themselves to supporting / encouraging the research activities of (both junior and more experienced) colleagues. Even more remarkably, you have continued to do so notwithstanding I know the discomfort you have felt about the changing nature of universities and the place of research within them. You have been and are a remarkable academic.
I don’t know what to say, you have been amazing, so supportive, I have never met anyone like you before…your expertise, your professionalism, your enthusiasm, everything…
I am a little bit upset with the news, but wish you all the best. The next writing bootcamp whatever it is will not be the same without you. I will miss you, even though we did not have much of interaction. But you are special, you are smart, generous, and beautiful, you have all qualities that only a few people have, without any defect.
You are so humble in the abundance of collegiality and generosity of care you have offered, an inspiring academic, researcher and mentor, a productive while always cheerful and thoughtful colleague, industriously proactive for the collective good, devoted and diligent, the adjectives have no end and they are all authentic mirroring who you are.
I want to express my sincere gratitude for all you have done for us. Your support has been immense and invaluable. I can only imagine how challenging it must have been at times to promote our research culture and help us establish a research community.
I cannot help but think of all the different times we have interacted and all the great conversations we have had through the years. Our mentoring one-to-ones lasted always longer than they were scheduled for and have always given me what I needed to hear at the time. You have also been part in all my important professional successes. You have been a mentor, a valuable colleague, a confidante, and a friend and I could not be more grateful for everything you have done for me the last ten years. So, as you are closing your Middlesex chapter, I want to wish you the next one be filled with the same inspiration and generosity you’ve given others.
You have been so dedicated to helping others realize their potential. I could witness this once again!! People speak very highly of you. You are a true role model!!
It has been a privilege to have known you. Your intellect, dedication, collegiality and endless energy are inspiring. I am full of respect and admiration for what you have achieved for this Faculty.
Anne-Wil has been an extraordinary mentor during my time at Middlesex University and an ongoing source of inspiration, encouragement, and support! I had the opportunity to experience first-hand what is like to have the highest level of support and advocacy for our development needs. Anne-Wil truly makes me want to be a better academic! She also helps me face my own limitations and those of the system and reflect on what can be changed.
Thank you again for devoting all these years to producing plenty of materials to help MDX researchers (and beyond), mentoring many of us, and being an incredible emotional and professional support to me. You have created a research community in the Business School that is admirable and resilient.
Thank you, Professor Anne-Wil for all that you have done and continue to do. Since you came to MDX I have seen a positive shift in people feeling more engaged and motivated and the culture has really changed for the better. We were all in a better place thanks to you for your mentorship, your expertise and experience. You truly embody the notion of being, doing and knowing - a true professional in all respects that we can all aspire to be.
You have been always very kind and helping to me since I joined Middlesex. Every single time I reached out to you for anything, you did something that you could. Your commitment to development of others and being a responsible person has always amazed me.
This is very sad news for Middlesex. Your contribution to the scientific environment has been essential and it is hard to imagine how we are going to do without you. I have to thank you for your help in developing my network, connecting me with Tim, Bianca, Mariana and others, in writing my promotion application, and for your continued encouragements to do good research and promote a safe and fair academic environment.
Among all your other attributes and your massive contribution to the Middlesex community, the thing I appreciated most about you is your honesty. You may not remember, a few years ago you admitted to me that considered yourself to be an introvert. This simple observation, particularly in the face of your outgoing occupational persona made me start to come to terms with my own personae – and all for the good, as far as I’m concerned. I owe you a bigger thanks than you can possibly imagine.
To say that you will be missed is an understatement. What you have achieved at Middlesex has been brilliant and your legacy is immense. No one has developed a better reputation than you. While I understand, respect, and accept your decision, I am so sorry we are losing you during such a period of change across the HE sector.
Your departure is a great loss to the institution and to the Faculty in particular. On a personal level, as I moved beyond of my researcher/teacher mindset into a more active 'leadership' role, I would not have found my bearings without your sound advice and sponsorship. Aside from your support, it has been a pleasure to work with you on the various initiatives in which our paths have crossed.
Working with you has been such a pleasure and delight. It’s refreshing to work with an academic who understands and appreciates high admin standards!!
You have been performing a monumental task in inspiring and enabling research in the faculty. It must be very time consuming, but as a faculty member I have found it hugely reassuring and an important signal that research was valued by the University.
You have nourished so many colleagues, not least women and early career colleagues. Systems can become dehumanising and highly instrumental without those who dedicate themselves to constantly gardening the system with generosity of spirit as well as knowledge. The absence of such as you may never be able to be adequately articulated but its loss will be felt so deeply. It is often only in the absence of something that we come to appreciate the great value its presence had been. Be assured you have nurtured a whole generation of constant gardeners to follow your example, that is a wonderful legacy.
Rest assured all that I will not be leaving the academic community. I will continue to work on CYGNA, Positive Academia, my blog, my research, my website, the Journal Quality List, the Publish or Perish software, and my Crafting your career in academia guides. Some of you may even see more of me 😊. And if we do get back to Cumberland Lodge, count me in as a mentor!
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Copyright © 2024 Anne-Wil Harzing. All rights reserved. Page last modified on Wed 25 Sep 2024 15:09
Anne-Wil Harzing is Emerita Professor of International Management at Middlesex University, London and visiting professor of International Management at Tilburg University. She is a Fellow of the Academy of International Business, a select group of distinguished AIB members who are recognized for their outstanding contributions to the scholarly development of the field of international business. In addition to her academic duties, she also maintains the Journal Quality List and is the driving force behind the popular Publish or Perish software program.