On the 25th to the 27th June, the Research in Enterprise Education SIG and Family Business SIGs hosted their annual Writing Retreat at the Edgbaston Campus of Birmingham University.
A total of 15 scholars, from across the UK and beyond, took part in the retreat this year, which was designed for those interested in enterprise and entrepreneurship education and/or family and community business. The main objective was to spend dedicated time developing written output. This is the 3rd year the retreat has run, with participants enjoying an immersive experience while staying at the Edgbaston Park Hotel on campus grounds.
Dr Emily Beaumont and Dr James Cunningham facilitated the retreat, providing structured goal setting and writing sessions, along with a facilitated peer-to-peer feedback event to prompt reflection. Dr Kelly Smith generously guided participants through the University of Birmingham facilities, including a beautiful excursion to Winterbourne House and Garden.
One of the main benefits of the retreat is the opportunity to meet and work with scholars in similar areas. One participant explaining, ‘I was very happy to not only discover that I can write in a disciplined way but also to meet and make friends with like-minded academics’. Another noted that the ‘opportunity to meet scholars with shared experience’ was the most worthwhile aspect while focusing on writing. The seclusion offered by campus grounds meant for a very productive couple of days.
In previous years, many of the papers developed at the Writing Retreat were presented at the ISBE Conference. So, we look forward to seeing some of this year’s participants again in November!
If you are interested in attending the next Writing Retreat, look out for the application window early next year.