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Testing the Obligations of Presence in Academia in the COVID-19 Era

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  • Clare Shelley-Egan

    (Work Research Institute, Oslo Metropolitan University, NO-0130 Oslo, Norway)

Abstract

The COVID-19 crisis has given us a new, unprecedented impetus for thinking about the imperative of mobility in research. Travel and co-presence are widely accepted as being essential to career progression and promotion in academic life. Academics with fewer opportunities to travel find themselves at a significant disadvantage. COVID-19 and related public health measures have significantly limited the ability to be physically co-present in academia. Addressing obligations of co-presence in a less mobile world allows us to think concretely—and empathetically—about how to improve and extend virtual networking opportunities to those who have been marginalised with respect to research mobility. It also allows us to reflect on the role of reduced mobility and locality in how we think about and enact research. This article is informed and inspired by insights from research addressing academic mobility. I describe and discuss two prospects to productively work towards a new academic modus operandi characterised by limited opportunities for mobility. Furthermore, I highlight those issues and components that will require capacity building and a greater allocation of resources within the research system. In addition, I sketch out some pressing issues and questions for research mobility studies in a less mobile age going forward.

Suggested Citation

  • Clare Shelley-Egan, 2020. "Testing the Obligations of Presence in Academia in the COVID-19 Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-10, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:16:p:6350-:d:395704
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Catherine Tobin & Georgia Mavrommati & Juanita Urban-Rich, 2020. "Responding to Social Distancing in Conducting Stakeholder Workshops in COVID-19 Era," Societies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Sari Ferika Ozer & Avci Nilgün & Nazli Murat & Curkan Samet Can, 2023. "Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Academic Travels," European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, Sciendo, vol. 13(1), pages 14-25, December.
    3. Henning Kroll & Peter Neuhäusler, 2022. "“Formal and informal networkedness among German Academics”: exploring the role of conferences and co-publications in scientific performance," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(11), pages 6431-6452, November.

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