Sabbatical Spotlight - Dr Wesley O'Brien
My recent six-month sabbatical research leave (July to December 2024) provided me with a vital opportunity to focus on advancing my scholarly work, expanding upon my professional networks, and contributing meaningfully to the academic and wider community. During this period, I engaged in a diverse range of activities, including the lead and co-authorship of research articles book chapters, and national newspaper articles, with thematic emphases on physical activity, youth sport, physical literacy, and teacher wellbeing. I also maintained the supervision of my PhD students, supporting their progress with data analysis, manuscript development, and dissemination efforts. Editorial and reviewing responsibilities for leading international journals, alongside external examination work, ensured that I remained fully engaged with cutting-edge research standards and global academic dialogues.
This sabbatical directly enhanced the quality and currency of the academic programmes I deliver on at University College Cork, particularly within the B.Ed. in Physical Education, Sports Studies and Arts Programme. The experience of international collaboration through visits to Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand and Deakin University in Australia, combined with involvement in grant writing and continuous professional development projects like Y-PATH PE4Me and Cork GAA coaching initiatives, enriched my teaching practice and curriculum development. These international and cross-sector engagements have strengthened my ability to bring fresh, evidence-informed perspectives to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Beyond academic contributions, my sabbatical research leave strengthened UCC’s institutional profile and sectoral engagement. Representing UCC at prestigious international conferences, participating in National Governing Body (NGB) boards such as the Ladies Gaelic Football Association’s National Development Committee, and serving on the Cork Sports Partnership Board enhanced my personal community partnerships and strategic reach whilst working in UCC. The Catalyst-funded specific sabbatical visit to New Zealand and Australia forged promising collaborative relationships, paving the way for future research exchanges and funding opportunities. Moreover, my active coaching roles in Gaelic Games, culminating in championship successes, provided unique platforms for community outreach and applied sports science, exemplifying UCC’s commitment to combining academic excellence with real-world impact.
My recent six-month sabbatical research leave (January to June 2017) provided an invaluable opportunity to deepen my scholarly expertise, forge meaningful international collaborations, and advance my research in the field of business-to-business relationships and networks. Based at Kedge Business School (KBS) in Marseille, France, I immersed myself fully in the research environment, living in France for the duration of the leave and engaging closely with leading scholars across Europe, North America, and Australia. This period was exceptionally productive, yielding five accepted journal articles in 3-star Association of Business Schools (ABS)-ranked outlets, two conference papers, and the foundation of a promising new research direction centred on coopetition and relational ambivalence in entrepreneurial firms.
The sabbatical directly strengthened the quality and depth of my contribution to the Department of Management and Marketing at UCC. Collaborating with internationally recognised scholars, including colleagues from Georgia State University, the University of Alabama, the University of Sydney, and the University of Adelaide, exposed me to cutting-edge thinking in industrial marketing and entrepreneurial networks. These exchanges, alongside my work with Dr Louise Canning at KBS on craft food sectors and network capability, have enriched my research agenda and will inform both my teaching and curriculum development across the College of Business and Law in the years ahead.
Beyond my personal research outputs, this sabbatical strengthened UCC's international research profile and opened new avenues for future collaboration and funding. The relationships cultivated at KBS have proved enduring and I have returned to Marseille on numerous occasions since my sabbatical. My collaboration with Prof Louise Canning has continued to flourish, most recently producing a publication in
Industrial Marketing Management, "Conceptualising Entrepreneurial Emotions in the Development of Network Capability" (
McGrath, Canning & O'Toole), a 3-star ABS journal, demonstrating the long-term value that a well-structured sabbatical can generate for both the researcher and the institution.
