This paper evaluates a pilot academic enhancement program aimed at fostering compassionate pedagogy. It shares the outcomes of using podcasts to help enable HE teaching staff to reflect on their own experiences and how difficult it is to create compassionate conditions that build a sense of belonging when they are themselves struggling to cope. The paper concludes with recommendations for future iterations of educational development that prioritise compassion and inclusivity in higher education, and that address systematic inequities.
First published in the Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice (Issue 1 Spring 2025)