TY - UNPB
T1 - Reimagining Academic Work
T2 - The Role of Remote Work in Shaping Work-Life Balance in Dutch Higher Education
AU - Parham, S.
AU - Rauf , Muhammad Abdul
AU - Abdelwahab, Hanna
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated a paradigm shift in the dynamics of work-life balance within academia, and the Netherlands is not an exception, where the higher education sector was thrust into uncharted territories of remote work and digital learning platforms. Employing a qualitative, multi-case study design, this research aims to explore the sustained impacts of pandemic-induced adaptations on the work-life balance of Dutch university academics. Through semi-structured interviews conducted with 20 academics from two Dutch international universities, utilizing both purposive and snowball sampling methods, this study adopts a phenomenological approach to delve into the lived experiences of academics. It reveals the complexities of navigating professional responsibilities and personal life in a post-pandemic context. Preliminary findings suggest that while the shift to remote work offered unprecedented flexibility, it also blurred the boundaries between work and personal life, posing both challenges and opportunities for achieving a harmonious work-life balance. This study contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable academic practices and policies conducive to fostering well-being among university faculty in the evolving landscape of higher education.
AB - The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated a paradigm shift in the dynamics of work-life balance within academia, and the Netherlands is not an exception, where the higher education sector was thrust into uncharted territories of remote work and digital learning platforms. Employing a qualitative, multi-case study design, this research aims to explore the sustained impacts of pandemic-induced adaptations on the work-life balance of Dutch university academics. Through semi-structured interviews conducted with 20 academics from two Dutch international universities, utilizing both purposive and snowball sampling methods, this study adopts a phenomenological approach to delve into the lived experiences of academics. It reveals the complexities of navigating professional responsibilities and personal life in a post-pandemic context. Preliminary findings suggest that while the shift to remote work offered unprecedented flexibility, it also blurred the boundaries between work and personal life, posing both challenges and opportunities for achieving a harmonious work-life balance. This study contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable academic practices and policies conducive to fostering well-being among university faculty in the evolving landscape of higher education.
M3 - Working paper
BT - Reimagining Academic Work
ER -