Walking the tightrope: enabling mindset and practice transformation at scale through compassionate academic development

This reflection centres on how existing tensions in academic development work were magnified and challenged as competing imperatives sought to (re)define the roles of academic developers at a UK university during the pandemic in 2020. In a situation of heightened anxiety amongst all stakeholders, issues relating to professional agency, expertise, and pedagogic approaches surfaced. This resulted in a delicate ‘tightrope walk’ of fulfilling obligations as defined by senior leadership and academic colleagues whilst asserting an authentic and compassionate approach that was true to professional values, experience, and expertise.