Goals

The main objective of this research is to capture a realistic picture of academics' relationships in a professional setting and investigate how social interactions (networking) support academics in learning different teaching practices and modifying existing ones. The work aims to comprehensively explore a number of questions:

• Firstly, the project will investigate how and with whom academics develop various channels of interaction in a professional setting.
• Secondly, the study will identify on what basis and how frequently academics communicate within internal and external networks.
• Thirdly, the study will investigate how academics exploit sources of knowledge and information available within or through networks in order to benefit their teaching practices.
• Finally, the study will explore how networks support academics in learning and changing their professional practices.

Main aims of the study:

• Contribute to a better understanding of networking value in or for professional development.
• Contribute to practice by identifying conditions under which knowledge exchange and learning can be enabled or enhanced for academics through networking.

This PhD study will examine the following aspects:

• The motive, purpose and value of networking in academics.
• Influence of interactions (networking) on academics' performance.