An online community of international scholars: Enabling spaces for reciprocal academic and psychological support

• DOI: 10.1080/14703297.2021.1991424
• Publication Date: 2021-11-25T09:44:52Z
• Authors: Dely Lazarte Elliot; Kara A. Makara
• Keywords: Isolation; Social distance; Social Isolation

COVID-19 and its imposed social confinement entailed a radical shift in research, supervision learning doctoral education. Heightened flexibility delivery, sensitivity compassion greater reliance on technology sought to address not merely scholars' pedagogical but holistic needs, which became more prominent during the pandemic. Face-to-face academic events were conducted online overcome hurdles presented by 'social distancing'. We examine how dynamics of our group for international scholars changed after shifting mode. employed an autoethnographic approach highlight evolving rewards challenges conducting meetings with scholars. Focusing this is timely since 'working-from-home' mode contributed isolation stress that they experienced. This paper: a) exemplifies psychological benefits fostered meetings; b) highlights creative virtual pedagogies practices worth adopting even pandemic over.