How can we create cultures of generous scholarship?

In an increasingly measured and competitive research landscape where individual performance is often dominant form of recognition, practicing generosity can sometimes feel like an act of resistance. Despite this, there is an overwhelming evidence base that demonstrates generosity, compassion and care in leadership are fundamental to satisfaction, development, and ultimately organisational performance.

With an exciting panel of experts from within and outside the institution, this session explores what generous leadership might look like at all levels of an organisation, shares inspiring examples of best practice, and considers how a culture of ‘generous scholarship’ might be embedded in Higher Education Institutions. Professor and author Kathleen Fitzpatrick will be joined by University of Bath experts including Kate Elliott, Coaching Psychologist and OD Consultant. The event will be chaired by Professor Davide Mattia, Department of Engineering.

This event is part of our Research Culture Month programme and is relevant to everyone interested in exploring and understanding how collaboration, compassion and care can transform the way we work in Higher Education.

Introducing Kathleen Fitzpatrick

Kathleen is Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies and Professor of English at Michigan State University. Prior to her role at Michigan State University, she was Director of Digital Humanities and founding director of Mesh Research, a lab focused on the future of scholarly communication.

Kathleen is project director of Knowledge Commons, an open-access, open-source network serving more than 50,000 scholars and practitioners across the humanities and around the world. She is also author of several books, including Leading Generously: Tools for Transformation, (Johns Hopkins UP, 2024), Generous Thinking: A Radical Approach to Saving the University (Johns Hopkins UP, 2019) and Planned Obsolescence: Publishing, Technology, and the Future of the Academy (NYU Press, 2011). Kathleen is a member of the board of directors of the Educopia Institute, of which she was president from 2022 to 2024, and she is a past president of the Association for Computers and the Humanities.

This is the first in a two-part series on Generous Leadership with a follow-up workshop on 8 July.