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Benefits of an academia relationship

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(@efields30)
Posts: 27
Eminent Member
Topic starter
 
A person working in an academic institution usually title as a post-doctoral researcher, Associate Professor, or Development Engineer. These people share their knowledge and solve problems with other trainees and students who plan to eventually work in a similar field. What is the academic benefit of students and teachers/ researchers/ consultants in their mutual teaching and learning relationship? How does their relationship improve both parties ? 

 

This topic was modified 2 years ago by Efields30
 
Posted : 05/03/2022 11:03 am
(@mayasaunders)
Posts: 21
Eminent Member
 

In a classroom where the teacher and students develop personal connections, the students talk frequently with the teacher, and the teachers offer constructive feedback rather than just criticism, it is more likely that the student will trust their teacher, display more engagement in class, behave better in class, and perform at a higher level academically. Students seeking academic success will be more comfortable taking academic risks when they have a positive relationship with their teacher. Positive interactions between teachers and students will have a positive influence on learning outcomes. A positive response from a teacher to a student is usually prompted by positive comments, positive interactions, and positive exchanges. Students benefit from teacher-student relationships because of the encouragement and motivation they receive when they know someone else is investing time in them. 

 
Posted : 29/06/2022 8:39 pm
(@dmcclee)
Posts: 7
Active Member
 

Relationships in academia offer present and future benefits. Establishing a connection with faculty early gives a student a possible mentor in a space where learning is completely inhibited. In this space, students have an opportunity to relate closely with individuals who have been where they are trying to go. During their time in school, students have the opportunity to gain experiences that will serve them well as they work towards the graduation stage. I also think of the massive benefits that are available post-graduation, students often rely on the relationships built during school to parlay that into additional employment opportunities. Speaking from experience, my first job was made possible due to relationships between my mentor/teacher and his colleagues. A colleague who had seen my work during my time as a research assistant . 

 
Posted : 29/06/2022 9:09 pm
 tgt6
(@tgt6)
Posts: 79
Trusted Member
 

As others have said in this thread, having a relationship between students and teachers/researchers is very powerful and very beneficial to both parties. While it may seem much more one-sided, both parties are constantly learning from each other and improving themselves with every interaction. The student is obviously learning about the material being covered but also has the chance to learn about some real-life experience about someone who has been in the field that they are interested in. Whether it is working in the field or focusing more on academia, the teacher/researcher will be able to provide some sort of context that the student could benefit from. On the other hand, the teacher/researcher will also learn from this interaction by seeing how the student reacts to their teaching method. This will be how they can improve their skills for future years and also where they can see they should add more emphasis in. Being a student or professor will always result in the product of staying curious, learning new things, and applying that to what you do. Having a good relationship with the other party can prove to be very beneficial to one's own development. 

 
Posted : 11/09/2022 11:53 am
(@mb776)
Posts: 10
Active Member
 

I think the relationship is more skewed towards the student but is still beneficial for both student and professor. Basing this on the professors from my undergrad, most professors have several years of experience in industry. Being on good terms with a professor would not only give the student access to a lot of industry knowledge, but they would also be learning this information one-on-one as opposed to learning about it in a lecture. This would give the student that one-up when they finally get started on a career post-graduation. As for the professor, it never hurts to have a fresh face to talk to about subjects they have been working on for decades. The years of experience may cause the professor to be a little biased on a subject. As stated by @tgt, someone just coming into the field could give the experienced scholar a new perspective. 

 
Posted : 11/09/2022 10:23 pm
(@ag2265)
Posts: 70
Trusted Member
 

This topic of academic and student relationships really stuck out to me because I personally gained a priceless experience and relationship with my research mentor. Reading the replies made on this post such as Maya Saunders’ commentary on how the knowledge that the professor brings to the student is just as valuable as the knowledge that the student may provide to the professor really resonated with me. When I first met my mentor he had difficulty in communicating with me as English was not his first language, however, he was extremely knowledgeable about the field. He taught me about the anatomy of the rat brain and the various inflammatory pathways that are primarily involved in the injury of a blast induced traumatic brain injury (scope of research that our lab looks at). Additionally, he taught me how to conduct behavioral testing, IHC, rat perfusions, etc. and not only that but he taught me how to think like a researcher and how to ask the appropriate questions to help further the understanding of the topic. While all this was being taught to me I was teaching my mentor how to communicate with others when teaching complex topics. I additionally helped him with his English so that he could be a more effective speaker. Through these experiences we both have created a personal bond with each other even after he has graduated with his PhD. This kind of relationship is extremely valuable to me because even though he is much further along in his professional career than I am, he still treats me as an equal as I have helped him as much as he has helped me.

 
Posted : 11/09/2022 11:23 pm
(@jadalloyd)
Posts: 24
Eminent Member
 

There are many challenges faced in academic institutions. Developing academic relationships can assist them by creating a pathway for professors/researchers to increase knowledge among students outside of the classroom. I believe the culture of your respective institution can heavily influence your perspective on the benefits of academic relationships. In some instances, academic relationships are highly encouraged at most universities as opposed to others where opportunities are scarce. Teaching and learning relationships are in place to promote growth. This form of relationship can benefit the mentor by allowing them to be able to pass back information and skills to encourage growth in a younger generation of researchers/engineers, the coaching skills being utilized improve the mentor as a leader. The mentee will have the chance to obtain guidance within the industry they are interested in that could lead to career opportunities. Professional development is another significant improvement that can come from an academic relationship.

 
Posted : 04/03/2023 9:08 pm
 jbh8
(@jbh8)
Posts: 66
Estimable Member
 

An amicable and collaborative academia relationship can have a positive cascading effect on future students. For example, an undergraduate student joins an academic lab following their completion of that lab director’s course. From there, the student learns new skills and experiences from working for that professor. They continue their academic career as a PhD student in that lab where they pass on their knowledge and advice to incoming undergraduate researchers. That PhD student can develop their own teaching style based on the positive experiences with their mentor if they decide to continue in academia as a professor in some capacity. Their mentor is also able to improve upon their own teaching style. This cycle leads to more mentors that are equipped to help a new generation of students. In regards to the direct relationship between a professor and student, both parties have the opportunity to be collaborative in their research. By demonstrating their trust in a student’s potential, teachers provide motivation for students to push forward. Such motivation and trust ensures students feel their teachers can be part of their support system in an academic setting. A mentor can also feel secure in the handling of their projects by students based on the trust they have built.

 
Posted : 10/09/2023 8:48 pm
(@mme54)
Posts: 48
Trusted Member
 

As a student, I can definitely attest to the immense impact of having a positive and supportive relationship with a teacher. When I feel that my teacher genuinely cares about my progress and well-being, it fosters a sense of trust and connection that makes me more eager to engage in class, participate in discussions, and even take academic risks. Knowing that my teacher will provide constructive feedback rather than just criticism gives me the confidence to push my boundaries and strive for excellence. These positive interactions not only boost my academic performance but also enhance my overall classroom experience. It's incredibly motivating to have someone invest time and effort in my growth, and this encouragement serves as a powerful catalyst for my academic success. Ultimately, the strong teacher-student bond plays a pivotal role in shaping my attitude, behavior, and achievements in the classroom.

 
Posted : 26/09/2023 11:04 pm
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