This is the first day of the year easy of my career. I say that because I ceased being a full time academic yesterday. As of today I am one day a week at City, University of London, and that will probably cease there altogether next summer.
I am not without other income. I am discussing research and consulting projects with several parties, some of which look likely to proceed.
A relationship with Anglia Ruskin has begun. I am in discussion with another university.
I have grant applications in alongside the University if Sheffield and Copenhagen Business School, and we are discussing more.
There are interesting openings available for tax spillover work that are being pursued.
So what I am doing is going back to the way of working I enjoyed from 2005 to 2015. And I admit I am looking forward to that. Being a full time academic had its plus sides, but the rigidity of the expectation, and the lack of willingness on the part of academia to consider anything that looks like innovation, was deeply frustrating. I have delivered against expectation whilst working with Horizon 2020 funding at City, but I admit to being pleased to have greater control of the expectation again.
I might take a slow, in work terms, weekend to mark the transition. But the new feels like it might be quite good.
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Well done and congratulations.
On the matter of the long weekend – well I happen to think that you are entitled dear chap. Go for it.
Thanks
All the best for the future, Richard, sounds like you’re looking forward to it.
I am
I feel bizarrely liberated to get on with what I want again
“I feel bizarrely liberated to get on with what I want again”.
I don’t think there’s anything bizarre about your feelings. Having the freedom of choice to pursue the subjects which interest you and to know that your contributions to these topics are making a tangible difference is bound to be liberating: it’s now your agenda and I wish you all success in pursuing it and I look forward to reading about your involvement in these topics on this site.
You will……
Looking forward to reading future posts from your freed up daily life. I think the lack of restraint will pay dividend to your thinking.
I can fully relate to the frustration of constraints placed on you working in an uninspiring environment where innovation is feared rather than embraced.
Good luck Richard
I should stress I am choosing to still work with colleagues at universities who do embrace innovation…
Best wishes for this new phase in your life. Fresh coffee needs an empty cup! Be well.
Thanks John
Whatever you are doing will be done to the best of your ability. That has always been a large part of your strength.
And it will be done with love. That’s another part – and one which shines out from what you write.
Many strong coffees and happy steam railway journeys to you!
Thanks Jeni
Appreciated
It may be bird watching tomorrow….
If you have a bit of time you might want to read Adrian Vaughan’s ‘The Greatest Railway Blunder’ (2009) which is a book that begins with the learning of the railway system from its conception to its atomisation under privatisation.
Vaughan in my view is wonderfully biased because – let’s face it – there are too few voices about the mess we have made of our railways over the years.
Read that a while ago!
Congratulations Richard. I wish you all success. I also hope that your relationship with Ms Anglia Ruskin blossoms.
🙂
“I ceased being a full time academic yesterday. ”
Don’t think so, Richard. You just stopped getting a salary for it. 🙂
🙂