Edge Hill University<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a landscape increasingly dominated by neoliberal ideologies, where productivity, individual achievement, and institutional rankings often take precedence, compassion and empathy are at risk of being side lined (Hokka, 2023). These pressures privilege successful research bids and publications in high-impact journals over research that prioritises societal impact (Ball, 2015). In response to this, I explore how ‘academic love’ can inspire change and equip academics to resist market-driven values and re-centre human connection in Higher Education (HE) (Caddell & Wilder, 2018). Building on Blanco-Bayo\u2019s (2022) concept of cari\u00f1o -spontaneous, reciprocal affection rooted in love- I argue that \u2018academic love\u2019 is necessary and can transform the current culture in HE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I redefine \u2018academic love\u2019 as a deep level of compassion between academics, grounded in love and affection. This concept counterbalances the competitive nature of neoliberal academic spaces (Waddington, 2018) and reiterates that compassion strengthens collegial relationships and promotes relational academic communities (Andrew et al., 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rather than prioritising productivity, \u2018academic love\u2019 forms the foundation of academic culture (Aguado-L\u00f3pez, Becerril-Garc\u00eda & God\u00ednez-Larios, 2018) and nurtures collective well-being and promotes, equity, collaboration and justice in academic work. Ultimately, this definition can help rethink academic values based on love and demonstrations of solidarity towards each other, and in the process, reshape the future of research and teaching in HE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n