The International Business School is proud to host the Professional Development Workshop for Academics, a three-part online workshop series designed to support academics in navigating the complex demands of teaching, research, and career development.
Academics in both higher education and sometimes schools (like teachers) are under immense pressure, particularly when it comes to balancing teaching duties with research and administrative expectations. This pressure can manifest in various ways, including high performance targets, limited time for research due to workload, and a perceived emphasis on research over teaching in many higher education institutions. This series of three workshops in intended to academic learn the tools of trade and share solutions to common challenges faced by academics. Academics in higher education, face intense pressure to meet high performance targets, balance heavy teaching loads, and keep up with demanding research expectations. This workshop series offers practical tools, strategies, and shared solutions to help you thrive in your academic journey.
Workshop Schedule
1. Sharing Your Research – 28th July 2025 | 90-minute session (GMT 10.00)
Learn how to effectively communicate your research to diverse audiences and enhance your academic visibility by Prof Jonathan Liu.
2. Getting Published and Writing for Publication – 14th August 2025 | 90-minute session (GMT 10.00)
Gain essential insights and actionable tips on writing for publication and navigating the publishing process successfully by Prof Nicholas O’Regan.
3. Crafting Careers as Career Academics – 26th August 2025 | 90-minute session (GMT 10.00)
Explore sustainable career-building strategies within academia and discover ways to manage competing demands.
Key Details
· Delivery Mode: Online via Microsoft Teams
· Cost: Free (Pre-registration required)
· Materials provided: Power-point slides and notes
· Who Should Attend: Academics in higher education, school educators, and early-career researchers seeking practical tools and community support.
Why Attend?
Address common academic challenges
Develop essential research and publishing skills
Build sustainable academic careers
Connect with peers and share real-world solutions
Register Now: https://forms.office.com/e/dtaBAD6wHE
Spaces are limited – Secure your spot today!
Speakers Profile
Professor Jonathan Liu – “Crafting Academic Careers: Sustainable Strategies for Career Academics”
In this vital session, Professor Liu shares sustainable strategies for building robust academic careers and handling the multifaceted pressures of modern academia:
Professor Jonathan Liu serves as Executive Dean at the International Business School in Sale (Manchester), and is Professor of Global Business Management, with a distinguished academic career spanning Aston, Middlesex, Regent’s, and the Global Banking School. A prolific scholar and committed mentor, he has authored over 100 articles and nine books on business, management, performance, and entrepreneurship. As Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Business Performance Management and active on several editorial boards, he brings firsthand knowledge of academic progression and publishing standards. Along with his experience with the British Academy of Management, the National Conference of University Professors and Chair of Ming-Ai Association, Professor Liu will share his experiences on crafting the career pathway.
- Clarify Your Academic Identity
- Define your niche—whether it’s teaching excellence, research leadership, or industry engagement.
- Align your activities with long-term goals—publications, funding, and impact.
- Strategic Research Planning
- Balance high‑impact journal outputs with applied research and collaborative projects.
- Build coherent research lines that attract funding and reinforce your academic profile.
- Time Management & Workload Juggling
- Prioritize and delegate: distinguishing core academic tasks from administrative load.
- Utilize frameworks like academic time-blocking and role-based task-sharing.
- Building Academic Networks & Mentoring Relationships
- Leverage professional networks, editorial roles, and societies to raise your profile.
- Recognize the importance of receiving and giving mentorship for career development.
- Resilience & Career Adaptability
- Embrace the unpredictable nature of academia—grant rejections, shifting institutional priorities.
- Cultivate resilience through reflective practice and continuous skill development.
- Enhancing Visibility & Impact
- Maximise editorial and leadership roles—and embed your work through conferences, consultancies, and public engagement.
Why Attend?
This session is designed for a broad academic audience—from early-career researchers to seasoned faculty—seeking a roadmap through complex institutional demands. Professor Liu combines strategic thinking, personal experience, and institutional insights to deliver an actionable guide for thriving in academia, not just surviving. Whether your priority is publication, promotion, or public impact, this talk gives you the scaffolding to build a sustainable, visible, and satisfying academic career.
Professor Nicholas O’Regan – “Getting Published: Insights from an Academic Strategist”
Professor Nicholas O’Regan is a distinguished academic in Strategy, Marketing & Innovation at Aston Business School. Since completing his PhD at Middlesex University, he has held high-impact roles across UK institutions—Middlesex University, Bristol Business School, UWE Bristol (where he served as Associate Dean for Research & Innovation), and now Aston—bringing deep insight into strategy, enterprise, and scholarly impact.
A strategist at heart, Professor O’Regan excels in translating complex theory into actionable insights. His research spans organisational culture, leadership and strategy in SMEs, and technology adoption—published in top-tier journals including the Journal of Business Research and Journal of Managerial Psychology. He brings a pragmatic lens to publishing, emphasising relevance, clarity, and engagement with practitioner audiences.
Drawing on his experience as a seasoned editor and successful researcher, Professor O’Regan’s talk will guide scholars—especially early-career researchers—through the publication process:
- Targeting the right journals: How to select appropriate outlets by matching topic, scope, and audience.
- Crafting meaningful contributions: Strategies for framing research questions within larger debates and ensuring methodological rigour.
- Bridging academic and practical value: Insights to articulate relevance to both scholarly peers and real-world professionals.
- Navigating peer review: Tips for interpreting editor and reviewer feedback, responding effectively, and turning revision requests into acceptance.
- Growing your publication trajectory: Developing a productive mindset, perseverance, and a roadmap toward building a recognisable academic profile.
Why Attend?
Participants will gain confidence in refining their manuscripts for submission, leveraging Professor O’Regan’s track record in both high-impact theoretical research and applied practitioner engagement. Ideal for doctoral candidates, postdocs, and novice faculty, the session promises practical tools—journal selection, narrative frames, peer‑review strategies—backed by real-case examples from his successful publications.