A Virtual Sabbatical: A Pioneering Case Study

Easteal, P.; Westmarland, N.

doi:10.1007/s10755-010-9153-9

A Virtual Sabbatical: A Pioneering Case Study

Easteal, P.; Westmarland, N.

Authors

P. Easteal

Professor Nicole Westmarland nicole.westmarland@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Abstract

International exchange is an important aspect of academic life. Thus, international sabbaticals are, in general, seen as a measure of research collaboration, networking, and international standing. There are, however, a few groups who are likely to be disadvantaged by such criteria even though they may be implicit, that is, those for whom international travel is problematic. Using reflective learning, the researchers conducted a virtual sabbatical for six months as a metaphorical “ramp”—that is, a way of making international sabbaticals accessible to more people. We now present a case study of this action research project, which answers the following questions. How does the concept of a virtual sabbatical fit holistically within the context of higher education? How can the aims of the sabbatical be fulfilled in a virtual context? What are the problems and successes of the virtual sabbatical?

Citation

Easteal, P., & Westmarland, N. (2010). A Virtual Sabbatical: A Pioneering Case Study. Innovative Higher Education, 35(5), 297-311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-010-9153-9

Journal Article Type	Article
Online Publication Date	Aug 6, 2010
Publication Date	Aug 6, 2010
Deposit Date	Aug 6, 2010
Publicly Available Date	Sep 7, 2012
Journal	Innovative Higher Education
Print ISSN	0742-5627
Electronic ISSN	1573-1758
Publisher	Springer
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	35
Issue	5
Pages	297-311
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-010-9153-9
Keywords	Sabbatical, Virtual, Online technology, Action research, Case study
Publisher URL	http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/sass/EastealandWestmarland2010InnovativeHigherEducationarticle.pdf