Learning within communities of scholars : academic career as an educational process.

• Main Authors: Ismail, Ismi Arif, Abdul Wahat, Nor Wahiza, Omar, Zoharah, Krauss, Steven Eric, Abiddin, Norhasni Zainal
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: Common Ground Publishing 2008
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/15439/1/Learning%20within%20communities%20of%20scholars.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/15439/
• Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia

This paper is based on a study of the lived experiences of academics moving in different stages of their careers. It explores the career experiences of new and senior academics moving on in academia via juggling their various tasks in academic work practice. The study documented and analysed the academics’ career histories through a series of interviews, document analysis and a literature review. This study is specifically an investigation of a situated lifelong learning process undertaken within academia. We wanted to understand how communities of practice in academia provide an educational process for academics. Their biographies are valuable in revealing the learning experiences of academics surviving the academia. Academics and people working in academic career development can learn a great deal about what individuals and institutions need to do to develop academics, personally and professionally.