Work

Incorporating care and compassion into the neoliberal academy

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: UK policymakers advocate compassionate pedagogical processes. However, the longstanding commitment to neoliberal higher education principles have produced, and indeed necessitate, inequality, conflict, and a lack of interpersonal care. We argue that compassionate academic processes demand holistic structural and discursive shifts that decentre competitive individualism and foreground care of oneself and others. To do this, we advocate recognition of and resistance to ‘care-less’ neoliberal discourses, with a ‘care-full’ co-production of relational learning environments that are psychologically safe, culturally and emotionally responsive, and structurally accessible.

Source: Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education

DOI: 10.47408/jldhe.vi35.1338

Authors: Michael Priestley, Sarah Crook

Institutions: Durham University, Swansea University

Language: English

Topic: University Challenges and Reforms

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4408911571

FWCI: 9.825

Cites:

Cited by: 3

Related to: 10