The degree of scientific activities practiced by faculty members in Libyan universities during sabbatical leave and the extent to which they benefit from it in their professional development

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the extent to which faculty members engage in scientific activities (research and teaching) during their sabbatical leave and to assess the degree to which they benefit from it in their professional development. The researcher adopted the descriptive approach, and the study population consisted of faculty members holding the ranks of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor who are eligible for sabbatical leave. A random sample was selected, and a questionnaire was used as the data collection tool. The results revealed that the level of engagement in research activities was generally below average and sometimes weak, with the most common activity being the preparation and publication of individual research papers, while the most prominent teaching activity was delivering lectures in the field of specialization at peer institutions. In contrast, the findings indicated a high level of benefit gained from sabbatical leave across various domains, particularly in research and community service, as well as in enhancing the sense of belonging to the university. In light of these findings, the study recommends encouraging faculty members to make better use of sabbatical leave by attending professional development programs at specialized centers in Arab and international universities, including training in computer skills, educational technologies, modern teaching strategies, languages, student interaction skills, research skills, and community service mechanisms, through coordination between universities and professional development centers.