The Flourishing Academic

This essential collection is a transformative guide for academics at all career stages, offering practical strategies and research-driven insights to help them flourish in Higher Education. With a core focus on social justice, diversity, and inclusion, the book empowers readers to navigate the complexities of academia while fostering personal and professional growth. Divided into three parts, the book begins by exploring academic identity, socio-emotional intelligence, and belonging, encouraging readers to reflect on their values and aspirations. The second part delves into enhancing teaching practice, presenting evidence-based strategies to engage students, enrich learning experiences, and embrace inclusive practices. The final part examines how Higher Education leaders can create supportive, inclusive environments that prioritise wellbeing, challenge systemic barriers, and champion social justice, ensuring long-term success for academics and their communities. Throughout, readers are shown effective ways to refine their teaching practice, develop a strong academic identity, and foster a thriving academic environment. The Flourishing Academic is an invaluable resource for academics at any stage of their journey, from early career researchers to senior leaders. Packed with tools and guidance from expert voices across different Higher Education environments, it is a must-read for anyone committed to advancing excellence, inclusion, and wellbeing in Higher Education.

Camila Devis-Rozental is an award-winning educator, author, researcher, and principal academic in learning design at Bournemouth University, UK. She leads TeachBU, the university's teacher training provision, and university-wide projects related to education quality and student experience.

Part 1. Developing an Academic Identity 1. The golden thread of this edited collection 2. Knowing me, Knowing you: Developing Socio-Emotional Intelligence as a Key Enabler to Flourishing in Academia 3. Forging an Academic Identity while Wearing many hats: The 21st-Century Academic 4. Great Minds Don't All Think Alike: Considering Neurodivergence in Higher Education 5. Flourishing in the Third Space: A Latina Immigrant Academic Between Belonging and Becoming 6. Who Looks After Our Mental Health? Protecting Staff Wellbeing in Higher Education Part 2. Developing the Craft of Teaching in Higher Education 7. Beyond Teaching: Understanding How People Learn 8. Enhancing Student Learning: Applying the Principles of Research-Informed Teaching in Higher Education 9. The Death of the Lecture? Innovative Teaching Strategies and Curriculum Design 10. Nurturing a Positive Classroom Environment Through Positive Education 11. Striving for Excellence in Teaching and Learning 12. Peer Review of Teaching: Connecting Voice to Experience 13. The Inclusive Teaching Compass: Practical Approaches for Teachers 14. Promoting a Sense of Belonging in University Students: Challenges and Opportunities 15. Peers in the learning journey: The doctoral supervision experience Part 3. An Enabling Environment to Teach and Flourish 16. Humanising the student journey is everyone's responsibility 17. Everyone's welcome here: challenging instrumentalism and championing inclusion in Higher Education 18. Relational leadership in HE: Championing People, Purpose, and Care 19. The Role of University Leadership in Supporting Academics to Flourish 20. Looking to the Future