The Impact of a National Crisis on Academic Research Productivity: Experiences of Program and Department Heads in Israel

Objectives: The research examined the impact of a national crisis on the research output of academic program and department heads in Israel, investigating how these leaders functioned in the face of prolonged uncertainty and exploring whether their administrative role resulted in personal costs. Methods: Data were drawn from interviews with 27 heads; then 133 heads answered a questionnaire. Results: The findings revealed factors restricting research during the crisis: overload relating to students, overload relating to administration, family difficulties, and inaccessible research infrastructure. Some heads developed successful strategies to sustain their research during the crisis. Conclusions and Implications: Critical insights into academic leaders’ resilience and management strategies can help academic institutions address challenges to research production caused by crises such as disasters, wars, and pandemics.