For numerous reasons including the most obvious (Covid-19), I have not attended an in-person external work event since 2018. This changed when I had a minor role as part of the delivery team for the British Universities Industrial Relations Association (“BUIRA”) conference at the end of June 2022.
I cannot overstate how enjoyable it was to be amongst a large and diverse peer group again. Like most people I recoil at the word “networking” so I chose not to regard social mixing as such. To me “networking” connotes instrumental behaviour whereas introducing yourself, sharing ideas and enjoying the occasion is little more than contributing to the commons. On this occasion I found it particularly emancipating and pleasurable!
Dr Martin James 