Compassionate Pedagogy in Higher Education - International Perspectives

Compassionate Pedagogy in Higher Education - International Perspectives

What if compassion were not an optional extra in higher education, but the organising principle of how we teach, learn, and lead?

Compassionate Pedagogy in Higher Education — International Perspectives offers a bold and timely response. Bringing together scholars and practitioners from Australia, Europe, and North America, this volume presents a rich, global exploration of how compassion can transform learning environments, strengthen academic communities, and support student wellbeing.

The core of the book is the novel Five-Petal Compassionate Pedagogy Model, a research-based framework that emphasises the emotional, relational, and ethical facets of teaching. Each chapter demonstrates how this model can be implemented in practice, providing engaging examples from various disciplines and institutional settings.

More than just a theoretical discussion, this book offers educators practical strategies, reflective insights, and inspiring stories that demonstrate the power of compassion to enhance both academic achievement and human flourishing. Whether you are a university lecturer, academic developer, institutional leader, or pedagogy researcher, this volume presents a transformative vision of what higher education can become when compassion is central.

Compassion is not a luxury in higher education — it is essential. This book explains why, and how, it can be realised.

About the Editors: Janet de Wilde is an Emeritus Professor in Engineering and Education at Queen Mary University of London and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Kayoko Enomoto is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Sciences and Deputy Dean (People and Culture) in the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics at the University of Adelaide, Australia. Richard Warner is an Adjunct Lecturer in the School of Education in the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics at the University of Adelaide, South Australia, and Co-Director at the Institute for Learning in Higher Education. Claus Nygaard is Professor, PhD and Executive Director at the Institute for Learning in Higher Education.