Empathy, Compassion and Meaning: Theory and participatory approaches

This transdisciplinary course will put doctoral fellow candidates at the front of knowledge, and with participatory research skills for research based on empathy, compassion and meaning. We offer this course in the believe that universities are not only to prepare doctoral candidates on how to do research, but to prepare scholars to do research that is implemented in ways that helps others and contributes to the better good in the world, and in accordance to the UN Sustainability goals.

During this course, the candidates will analyse three dimensions related to empathy, compassion and meaning:

1) the state of art of empathy, compassion and meaning studies;

2) core research approaches and relationship skills in the applicability of the principles of empathy, compassion and meaning when collaborating with candidates, colleagues, users, clients and or research participants; and

3) an reflexive practice about the impact of empathy, compassion and meaning for the candidate’s own experiences of well-being and their role as researchers. This course will bring relational processes at the core, through experiential learning, as well as a continuous process of critical thinking. To ensure this, the course targets a parallel orientation. On the one hand, the candidates will work on the formulation of a case where empathy, compassion and meaning are at stake in their PhD project. In addition to this case formulation, the candidates will submit a process-oriented report about reflexivity, self-awareness, collaboration, and critical thinking.