The Abundant Academy purpose and programme

                                                                                                                       h.harris@ed.ac.uk 

There is a huge amount of creative, value-driven momentum amongst university staff and early career researchers, and also an epidemic of stress.[1] Responding to both the motivation and the pressure, the Abundant Academy provides:

•      a personal- and leadership-development programme designed specifically for university members, and 
•      an on-going community within which to thrive and lead meaningful work in Higher Education.

Why we need the Abundant AcademyUniversities are microcosms that both reflect and influence what’s going on in the world, and we all feel the effects, consciously or not. A continually-growing emphasis on productivity and achievement, and a corresponding fear of failure and rise in perfectionism cause students and staff alike to feel that it is impossible to take your foot off the pedal, even for a moment. A postgraduate student recently said at our PhD Book Club, ‘We have no role-models of non burnt-out success’. We don’t want to keep adding to that picture, especially in these times of heightened economic pressure, cultural polarisation, geo-political conflict, and environmental damage, all impacting our lives. 

Abundant Academy resources teach us to protect ourselves and others from burnout, whilst bringing our best, most gracious, empowered and inspired selves to the many roles we play. Our students, colleagues, families and friends gain great benefit, too, from the changes that we are able to make as we live and work in ways that are increasingly meaningful, fulfilling and aligned with our sense of purpose.

The benefits of the Programme

• The Abundant Academy programme helps universities to nurture personally resourced, wise role-models whose impact is often life-saving. 
• It trains us to lead our lives well in all areas, including teaching, writing, research, team-management, self-growth, and professional and personal relationships, as well as effectively supporting, mentoring and leading others. 
• The programme is delivered to university staff of all levels and to postgraduate students. It has a proven ripple out effect upon colleagues and undergraduates, and addresses questions of profound culture-change within Higher Education.

How people experience the programme

77% of Abundant Academy participants reported feeling somewhat or very overwhelmed at the beginning of the programme, and 73% depleted or somewhat exhausted with 64% saying that they felt anxious all or some of the time. By the end of the programme, 50% said that they were either flourishing or on top of things and 60% said they were abundant or energised with 90% saying that they felt calmer.

The Programme creator 

Revd Dr Harriet Harris developed the Abundant Academy out of nearly 25 years of supporting students at staff, at the universities of Oxford and Edinburgh; 12-years work with University of Edinburgh students and staff, on What’s the University for?, and Slow University; and collaborations with the Scottish Government and universities around the world on bringing Compassion into the structures and ethos of Higher Education.  She is an experienced university lecturer, researcher, external examiner, and academic writer, and has been a Chaplain for over twenty years’, at the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh, supporting students and staff with the pressures of university life. She is a Priest in the Scottish Episcopal Church, Convenor of the Doctrine Committee of the Episcopal Church, and provides training for ministry. She is also a Trainer with Student Minds, an Associate Fellow of the Clinical Educator Programme, a trainer in Compassionate Leadership including for the NHS and Scottish Government, a Certified Thinking Environment Facilitator, and a Certified Coach and Trainer with One of Many®, the UK’s largest network for women in leadership. 

For her work within universities, Harriet has been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, and has received an MBE for services to Multifaith Education and Community Cohesion.

The Abundant Academy supports you to:

• stay replenished, and acquire habits that keep overwhelm and burnout confidently at bay for yourself and others
• find time and space that you didn’t know was there
• understand default disempowered behaviours, and swap them for strong, gracious ways of being 
• cultivate spiritual depth and your sense of purpose, integrity and joy
• respond wisely and compassionately, rather than reactively, frenetically, or desperately, to the challenges we all face

find the steps to take, the collaborations to make, and the support to harness, for fostering cultures and communities that you wish to inhabit and nurture.

[1] Supporting Staff Wellbeing in Higher Education Report