Reflecting on Rejection: Lessons for Aspiring Academic Leaders
Recently, I had the opportunity to appear for an interview for the prestigious position of Vice-chancellor at Mumbai University, one of the oldest and largest universities in the world. It has more than seven hundred colleges affiliated with it, and over seven lakh students enrolled on various programs. Being one of the university’s alumni, personally, it was the most memorable and honourable moment in my life.
As one of the shortlisted candidates, possessing a rich and diverse educational background spanning over three decades, I confidently approached the interview. It was one of the most remarkable interview performances of my academic life.
However, despite my best efforts, I faced the unfortunate outcome of rejection.
Reflecting on this setback, I discovered a common attribute among the selected candidates — they all possessed a strong research profile that surpassed mine. A strong research profile means having many publications with a high h-index and a citation score.
Through a thorough analysis of my research career, I discovered the inevitable mistakes I made during the early stages of my academic journey. In light of this self-reflection, I wish to guide my younger self and provide aspiring academics with invaluable advice for shaping their careers.
But before delving into that, let me briefly overview my academic journey thus far.
I began my academic career at twenty-one in a newly established university, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University (DBATU). As one of the department’s founding members, I shouldered the responsibility of establishing the department, setting up laboratories, and designing educational curricula for various undergraduate programs. Being an inexperienced teacher, the magnitude of the responsibility was quite overwhelming. Nevertheless, I did my utmost to deliver quality education to my students and earn the satisfaction of the institution’s leadership.
Although I nurtured the dream of pursuing a research career when I began, it seemed unattainable. Moreover, I never considered leaving a well-paying job where I enjoyed significant academic freedom. My academic career revolved around teaching for nearly two decades, as the department prioritized that aspect. It was only after establishing a PhD program at my university that my research career commenced.
It is crucial to note that if one aspires to become an academic leader, acquiring critical skills such as teaching and designing educational curricula is essential. However, more is required. A visionary academic leader is expected to enhance the research visibility of an institution. Thus, a strong research profile is highly desired, and building such a profile takes time — typically over two decades. On the other hand, anyone can acquire skills like curriculum design and quality assurance processes expected from educational leaders relatively quickly. Therefore, it is vital to commence building a research profile at an early stage if one aims to become a successful academic leader.
Here are a few suggestions for aspiring academic leaders who wish to develop strong research profiles based on my own experiences and the lessons I have learned.
Focus on your chosen research field opted during your PhD instead of expanding into different areas.
My first mistake was not initiating my research career at a young age. The second mistake was more significant, driven by the need to establish a research agenda for my department and increase the number of students.
I did it by adapting to the interests of prospective doctoral candidates. For my doctoral research, I focused on Software Architecture modelling. However, instead of continuing research in this field, I started supervising students from diverse areas, such as Applied Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Modeling, Geospatial Data Analysis, and Learning Analytics. I labelled my research lab under the umbrella term “ICT4SD,” aiming to provide ICT-based solutions for Sustainable Development goals.
When you pursue research in an entirely new area, moving away from your doctoral study’s topic, the most significant challenge you will face is becoming a member of a new research community.
Consider recruiting young research students with fewer professional or personal responsibilities.
While exceptional research often occurs at a young age, before reaching thirty, is subjective and may not apply universally to every individual or research field, there is evidence supporting the significant contributions young researchers can make to their respective fields.
Regrettably, I was unaware of this and ended up recruiting all my PhD students above 30, burdened with professional and personal responsibilities. Many pursued research as a part-time endeavour alongside various life commitments. After joining the PhD program, they faced numerous disruptions to their peace of mind, such as getting married, divorcing, and changing jobs. Consequently, some of them ultimately dropped out of the program.
Therefore, when seeking research students, it is advisable to consider individuals at a stage with fewer professional or personal responsibilities, allowing them to focus more extensively on their research pursuits.
Join an institute where an excellent research culture exists.
Being part of an institute with pre-established research programs offers numerous advantages. These labs typically have well-defined processes in place for obtaining timely travel grants. Moreover, they can access multiple funding sources, ensuring financial support for your research endeavors. If your research program extends beyond the expected duration, your research supervisor in such a lab can seek alternative funding sources to sustain your studies.
I was fortunate to have a research supervisor during my PhD program who exemplified these qualities. My supervisor sponsored my studies for six years, providing unwavering support and ensuring I had the necessary resources to conduct my research.
Therefore, aspiring academic leaders should seek out research labs that prioritize a robust research culture, as it greatly enhances their research opportunities and provides a conducive environment for their academic growth.
In summary, aspiring academic leaders should prioritize developing a robust research profile, recruiting young research students, and seeking institutes with an established research culture for a more successful academic journey.
Acknowledgement:
Thanks, ChatGPT, for refining my earlier draft.
