Why Sabbaticals Should Be About More Than Research
For most academics, sabbaticals are treated as a luxury. They provide a protected block of time to write papers, finish books, and clear the backlog of projects that everyday teaching makes difficult. That model makes sense, but it may also be too narrow.
In an essay published in the Journal of Management Studies, I argue that sabbaticals can (and should) be more than time away from routine work. They can be powerful pathways for engagement, renewal, and real-world impact .
The road most people take
Historically, sabbaticals were designed to help scholars become better teachers and researchers by immersing themselves in new ideas and environments. Today, however, most sabbaticals are used almost exclusively to advance research productivity. In other words, time is spent writing papers, submitting grants, and building publication pipelines. And given the pervasive pressures of “publish or perish,” this is understandable. But it also leaves significant value on the table.
A different path
Drawing on my own experience stepping temporarily outside academia, the essay explores what happens when sabbaticals are used for deep engagement beyond the university: in government agencies, nonprofits, community organizations, and mission-driven firms.
These experiences do more than broaden perspective. They can:
Reconnect scholars to the real-world problems their research seeks to address
Generate new research questions grounded in practice
Strengthen teaching through lived examples and stories
Build networks that benefit students and institutions alike
In short, time spent outside the business school can ultimately make academics more effective scholars, not less.
The challenges are real
Non-traditional sabbaticals are not without risk. Time away from research can raise concerns about scholarly productivity. Career trajectories may feel uncertain. Financial and personal sacrifices are often involved.
But the essay argues that these challenges are manageable, and that the long-term benefits can vastly outweigh the short-term costs, especially when institutions broaden their definition of what counts as a “productive” sabbatical.
Rethinking impact in academic careers
At a moment when universities are being asked to demonstrate relevance and societal value, sabbaticals represent an underused tool. When designed intentionally, they can help bridge the gap between scholarship and society, strengthening research, teaching, and public engagement at the same time.
Sometimes, the road less traveled really does make all the difference.
Read the full essay here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joms.13110