Excellence and Kindness in Research (ELIS)

At the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, we support the Excellence and Kindness in Research Initiative (ELIS).

We encourage all academic staff to familiarise yourselves with the initiative and consider how its values can be applied in their own research, teaching and leadership practices.

This page is intended to inspire reflection, encourage dialogue and highlight practical ways to make academia a more sustainable and supportive environment – one step at a time.

What is ELIS?

Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS) is a researcher-led initiative that promotes research cultures where high academic ambitions, integrity, wellbeing and a strong sense of community can coexist.

ELIS is founded on the belief that excellence and kindness are not competing values. On the contrary, sustainable and successful research environments require both.

Rather than providing a fixed set of rules or a one-size-fits-all solution, ELIS offers a framework for discussion and action. It encourages researchers, supervisors and leaders to take practical steps towards creating environments where people can both excel and thrive.

ELIS mission

ELIS aims to:

🟡 Train the next generation of researchers and leaders to foster research groups that prioritise both excellence and kindness.

🟡 Promote research cultures that value impact alongside integrity, compassion and empathy.

Current challenges in academia

Many people experience academia as highly competitive, uncertain and individualistic.

Cultures characterised by inclusion, kindness, compassion and empathy can contribute to greater wellbeing, stronger collaboration and improved retention across the academic community.

Read more about the ELIS initiative

ELIS is developing over time. The founders of the ELIS initiative have given talks and facilitated discussions on Excellence and Kindness in Research Training upon request, and additional formats may be developed. At present, the most important step is to start using the values in everyday academic settings - for example in meetings, courses, supervision, onboarding, authorship discussions and seminar discussions.

Core values of ELIS

We:
🟡 Pursue excellence without compromising on kindness.
🟡 Provide mentorship and support rather than relying on authority or hierarchy alone.
🟡 Promote transparency in both research and leadership.
🟡 Encourage open discussion about what excellence and kindness mean in practice.
🟡 Ensure that all voices are heard and valued.
🟡 Recognise diversity and inclusion as essential to both wellbeing and success.
🟡 Create opportunities to discuss excellence and kindness in research training.
🟡 Value collective success alongside individual achievement.
🟡 Prioritise collaboration over resistance and unhealthy competition.
🟡 View vulnerability as a sign of courage, not weakness.

Debate culture - house rules

This event is committed to Excellence and Kindness in Research Training.

  • It should be safe to present, ask questions and disagree.
  • Hard questions are welcome - but they should be asked respectfully.
  • The goal is to strengthen both research quality and the people doing the research.

Putting ELIS into practice

The ELIS values can be used to guide interactions in research groups, graduate programmes, courses, seminars, conferences and meetings.

 

 

 

Begin meetings, seminars and courses by establishing shared expectations for respectful and constructive engagement.

For example:

“This event is committed to Excellence and Kindness in Research Training. It should be safe to present, ask questions and disagree. Challenging questions are welcome, but they should always be asked respectfully.”

 

 

By:

  • Asking presenters what type of feedback they would find most useful.
  • Distinguishing between idea development and formal evaluation.
  • Balancing critical questions with recognition of strengths and potential.

 

 

Make it explicit that strong academic critique and respectful dialogue belong together. Encourage disagreement: “Tell me why this (viewpoint/solution) won’t work”.

 

 

Actively invite contributions from PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and early-career academics, not only the most senior or confident participants. As a senior, be mindful of not using all the speaking time.

 

 

Spend 10 minutes discussing: “What would excellence and kindness look like in the way we give feedback, distribute tasks, welcome newcomers and discuss authorship?”

 

 

Be explicit about how people are expected to collaborate, ask questions, disagree respectfully, provide feedback and seek support within your group or programme.

Encourage colleagues to make an extra effort to welcome and integrate new members of the community.

 

 

Discuss expectations early and revisit them when projects change.

 

 

Recognise not only publications, grants and individual achievements, but also contributions that strengthen the research environment, including:

  • Collaboration
  • Mentorship
  • Onboarding
  • Positive research culture

 

 

Write a short statement about what excellence and kindness mean for you, your research group or your programme - and use it as a reminder in everyday practice.

 

How Does the Graduate School Apply the ELIS Values?

The Graduate School actively promotes ELIS through its educational and leadership activities.

The Head of Graduate School introduces ELIS and its values during:

🟡 Introduction courses for new PhD students.

🟡 Training courses for new and experienced principal supervisors.

🟡 Courses for co-supervisors.

In addition, the Head of Graduate School presents the initiative to Heads of Graduate Programmes and PhD Coordinators, encouraging them to incorporate the principles of excellence and kindness into the planning and delivery of their activities.

#ELIS4us at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences aligns with our vision to provide world-class research training where high research ambitions, wellbeing, and a strong community feeling among our students and faculty are core elements.

We know that feeling a sense of belonging within a research community is essential for successfully completing a PhD, and in the last couple of years we have made several initiatives to enhance this process. This includes onboarding courses for new PhD students, coaching sessions, PhD supervisor courses with a focus on crossing generation gaps and redefining the role of the PhD coordinators to make them more active participants in the social lives at the workplace of our students.

We will keep working on enhancing the well-being and community feeling for our students, and therefore we are happy to be part of the ELIS initiative.

By Rikke Buhl,
Head of Graduate School