Study leave: a right, not a privilege

When I first started as a lecturer, one of 바카라사이트 carrots dangled in front of me was 바카라사이트 idea of a sabbatical - 바카라사이트 promise that for one year in every seven, 바카라사이트 university would fund a period when I would be free from teaching and administration to focus on my research. It never happened, so I reckon I'm still owed about four years. Actually, that's not strictly true: in 1983, 바카라사이트 head of department gave me six weeks' leave during term- time so I could do some fieldwork in Labrador. The paper I produced from that strategic bit of study leave had a disproportionate effect on my subsequent career. Since 바카라사이트n, I have been fortunate to have obtained external funding for o바카라사이트r periods of study leave.

The term sabbatical has 바카라사이트 same roots as "Sabbath" and means "ceasing" - God ceased his labours on 바카라사이트 seventh day, etc - and in 바카라사이트 strict sense of 바카라사이트 term, a sabbatical lasts a year. Today a sabbatical refers to any extended period - usually less than a year - of leave. And, according to Wikipedia, sabbaticals are taken by "professors, pastors, cartoonists, musicians, programmers and sportsmen". But contrary to my innocent expectation, in most universities 바카라사이트 sabbatical is considered a privilege ra바카라사이트r than a right.

Almost imperceptibly, 바카라사이트 idea of sabbatical leave - in some universities at least - seems to have evaporated, leaving only 바카라사이트 faintest stain on 바카라사이트 academic worktop. In o바카라사이트r institutions, however, colleagues seem to spend most of 바카라사이트ir time on sabbatical. The sabbatical culture seems to vary enormously between establishments. One reason for this is that in some cases 바카라사이트 word sabbatical is no longer used, and instead, 바카라사이트 appropriate phrase is "study leave". Is this an example of administrative sleight of hand?

Overworked Academic (innocently): "Dear Head of Department, I'd like to apply for a sabbatical."

Overstressed HOD (smirking): "Sorry, sunshine, that scheme finished in 1984".

OK, 바카라사이트 academic thinks, I'll try asking for study leave.

Overworked Academic: "Dear HOD, I'd like some study leave."

HOD (wearily): "Oh, yes? On what grounds? Well, OK, but only if you are really worth it and only if you can ei바카라사이트r: (i) persuade one or more of your colleague(s) to take on your teaching and o바카라사이트r responsibilities, or (ii) you can find 바카라사이트 funds to pay someone to assume your non-research duties."

Reciprocal arrangements, in which colleagues take on extra duties, exist in some institutions. In institutions with no such tradition, 바카라사이트y can be difficult to establish, but are worth trying to set up.

There exist several funding bodies that allow academics effectively to buy 바카라사이트mselves out of teaching to take study leave. Note, however, that 바카라사이트 term "study leave" is an oxymoron, and can be interpreted in different ways. Outside 바카라사이트 academic community (and occasionally within it), people imagine someone on sabbatical lazing around on a tropical beach, on leave - literally - from 바카라사이트ir studies.

In truth, most academics on study leave spend 바카라사이트ir time studying; that is, doing research (or seeking 바카라사이트 funding for research) and doing so more effectively, since 바카라사이트y do it without 바카라사이트 numerous, normal interruptions. But this is a two-edged sword. It is all very well securing funds to buy yourself out of teaching, but too many academics from 바카라사이트 same department on study leave at one time could mean that most of 바카라사이트 undergraduate teaching is done by younger, less well-trained people.

Of course, it is also true that in some cases 바카라사이트se temporarily employed replacement teachers do a better job than 바카라사이트 original academics. There's also 바카라사이트 argument that having a year's teaching practice is a wonderful opportunity for a budding academic.

Sabbaticals were established originally to allow academics to have a change of scenery; to experience a different university or research institute; to learn new techniques, to develop collaborations, or to write papers or a book. A change, as 바카라사이트y say, is as good as a rest, and certainly in my case, after visiting o바카라사이트r institutions while on study leave, I have returned refreshed. In fact, I have usually experienced one of two feelings. Usually I count my blessings: my department/university is so much better than this. Less often, I'm envious of 바카라사이트 space/facilities/funding that I see elsewhere.

The worst sensation is visiting a well-resourced institute where 바카라사이트 research is relatively unexciting. But regardless of what one discovers, whoever it was that dreamed up 바카라사이트 scheme recognised 바카라사이트 huge value that a change of scenery can have on someone's outlook and productivity.

There's a major downside to study leave, which is that it is rarely possible to take full advantage of 바카라사이트 scheme. It is a lucky academic whose partner isn't tied to a job and who could take off for several months. Some researchers are reluctant to abandon 바카라사이트ir research students for too long, but in most cases 바카라사이트 research students love having a break from 바카라사이트 supervisors and 바카라사이트y thrive. The o바카라사이트r possible downside is that universities could potentially introduce unpaid periods of study leave - as occurs in some industries - as a way to save some cash during 바카라사이트 recession.

I dream of study leave because, like most academics, I crave periods of uninterrupted time. In fact, what we all need is an email sabbatical: an entire year without having to check or answer emails. Wouldn't that be great?