Power of Academic Networking: Create connections that advance your research career .

Introduction 

The study was never undertaken by one person. While it has been stated that each person alone should also pursue study, the most meaningful studies or discoveries of our days have emerged through the collaborative efforts of researchers, universities, industries and international organizations. Academic networking has hence evolved into one of the important facets of career in research.

Most students dedicate years for the augmentation of their knowledge on the subject area, but fail to attach value on the importance of making professional links and relationships.

They focus much on degrees and assignments, but often ignore the importance of contacting professors, academicians, journal editors and industry professionals. Academic credentials are built not only through studies, thesis or thesis; but rather through the formation of meaningful professional ties, which offer more opportunities, scholarship or mentorship that even degree can never create.

What is meant by Networking in academics?

Networking is not only for collection of business cards or add as connections in LinkedIn.

Networking is about building genuine personal relationships that are grounded on the interests of each person in pursuing studies and on a mutual desire to exchange their own and the other person's knowledge.

Academic relationships evolve from deep personal conversations, research collaboration projects, conferences discussions, research workshops, and continuing education and profession connections. The networking is not meant for knowing the number of acquaintances that one possesses, rather for building enduring links to boost up your learning. Opportunities provided by academic conference Conferences is among the finest place for researchers across universities, nations and in this case of study; among the international arena to know fellow academicians.

Here, you will have opportunity to know other researchers and also to familiarize others about your works through your research presentation. Likewise you will be guided by keynote lectures, panel discussions and other meeting sections. In fact, a number of joint research articles and partnership collaboration start at the dinner table after the sessions at the conference!

It is worth encouraging students, to be a conference participant even if they cannot get to present a research.

Develop good relationships with the members of the faculty. The professors at universities usually play the role of mentors who guide the students’ academic and professional paths. By engaging yourself actively in any of their research, or laboratory experiment or by working on your project and even dissertation with any faculty, you can make an enduring impact not just on your coursework but as well on your academic profile. Strong faculty connections commonly offer recommendation letters, collaborative work in research, referrals to new research and scholarship networks, in addition to guidance on the opportunities for higher studies.

It is worthwhile to find yourself with a faculty advisor who is good as a mentor.

Utilize technology to network. With the increasing prevalence of the digital world, technology is offering ever more ways to reach out to other researchers across the globe. Maintain an online presence by having profile accounts on Google Scholar, ORCID, ResearchGate, or even on LinkedIn, in order to share your academic publications, conference proceedings, interests, research activity and achievements with the world.

Find researchers in your area and make them friends to share and communicate research findings, participate in discussions in their profiles and also comment and share their research works. Online connections, of course, can’t substitute face-to-face discussions, but can provide international opportunities. Let others benefit from the same as well Collaboration, where others get advantage from you.

Having different researchers sharing their own experiences helps them solve particular issues through alternative and innovative methodologies and use of modern techniques.

This may involve researchers from different fields, offering new perspectives on a problem. Many of the successful joint papers, grants applications, conference presentation and research collaborations stem from collaborations between researchers from various disciplines. Students with better research collaborations are more often distinguished compared to those working alone. Networking helps advance your career Most students find that professional networks help in their later career too.

In fact, when searching for employment as an academic, a position or as a team member, you are more likely to be successful if you can secure these openings through your professional networks and contacts.

In other words, good professional links can give an edge to you to obtain new research opportunities, jobs, scholarships and so on. These are some of the reasons why networking is so critical to success. Build a professional rapport with others through respect, ethical behaviour, and professionalism.

Let others benefit from the same as well It’s imperative to know that professional interactions should be based on professionalism, mutual respect, genuine interest in others and the work that others are involved in. Rather than just networking to seek help or support, think in terms of sharing your skills and expertise too. Being ready to support and listen patiently, being polite, being prepared to provide and accept contributions from others, will not just add to the value to your professional image, but will surely help you to maintain lasting connections.

Conclusion 

Academic networking is an investment in one’s career in research and should not be under-rated.

Each conversation with another scholar, attendance of conference, participation in group study projects and mentor relationship you have in your career as a student should contribute to the development of you as a more able researcher and in turn to your own more successful future as a professional in any field of research. In collaboration with well structured and systematic approach to studies, publication of original research papers and use of modern technology and methodologies, strong academic relationships are indispensable tools for creating a well distinguished career in academic and global research endeavors. Success in any study or work seldom achieved in solitude. The more you extend yourself outside of the confines of your own work or study and become part of a broader intellectual community, the more rewarding and productive your experience will become.

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