Qualitative Evaluation of the Effects of Sabbatical Leave Strategy on Professional Development of University Faculty Members

Professional development of faculty members as a part of human resources development at universities is of special importance. One of the common strategies for the professional development of these members is sabbatical leave. The present study was carried out with narrative-based research methodology as well as interpretive approach to assess the experiences of faculty members from sabbatical leaves. Episodic interviews were used to collect data. Research potential contributors were university faculty members who had experienced at least one sabbatical leave. Sampling technique is purposeful and criterion-based. After interviewing 25 members, the data were categorized and analyzed inductively and according to thematic analysis, using Nvivo10 software. Findings show that sabbatical leaves have changed the academic and personal values of faculty members regarding professional development and personal life style, that the participants have highlighted the challenges of sabbatical leaves in the framework of internal and external organizational challenges, and that by using the experiences provided by sabbatical leaves, the faculty members have been able to bring about changes in their own personal lifestyle and in such attitudes as having a long-term plan for themselves and their families and having a sense of social responsibility and more positive relationship with colleagues. Results also show that in the area of professional and academic work, sabbatical leaves have developed a tendency among members toward group work and supporting students and colleagues by establishing scientific links as an interface with foreign universities and by giving priority to quality rather than quantity. It is recommended by the research that, because managerial positions suffer from high rate of mobility, simple and long standing administrative regulations should be considered to support faculty members willing to apply for sabbatical leave.