Erasmus+ | Anti‑Burnout Puzzle for Academics

The University of Nicosia (UNIC) is a partner in a new Erasmus+ project, entitled: Anti‑Burnout Puzzle for Academics.

Burnout is a recognized occupational risk in higher education. The World Health Organization includes it in ICD‑11 as a syndrome arising from chronic workplace stress. Many campuses face pressure from heavy teaching and research loads, grant competition, rapid digital shifts, geopolitical turbulence, and the rise of artificial intelligence. Signals of exhaustion often get treated as personal shortcomings, not as organizational warning signs. This project changes that narrative and provides evidence‑informed solutions.

Key project facts

  • Programme: Erasmus+
  • Project number: 2024-1-PL01-KA220-HED-000243646
  • Timeline: 1 Nov 2024 – 31 Oct 2026 (24 months)
  • Budget: €120,000
  • Coordinator: Dobre Kadry, Research and Training Centre Ltd. (Poland)
  • Partners: University of Nicosia, Cyprus, Bratislava University of Economics and Management (Slovakia) and Korczak University – Academy of Applied Sciences in Warsaw (Poland).
  • Website: https://antiburnoutpuzzle.dobrekadry.pl/

What the project offers

  • For academics: Skills and daily practices that build personal resilience, including modern Stoic reflection, mindfulness, and nature‑based micro‑breaks that focus attention on what is controllable and restore energy in green spaces.
  • For university leaders: Clear frameworks to spot early symptoms across teams, assess pressure points, and implement supportive policies before stress escalates.

Deliverables by October 2026

  • Resilience‑Building Toolkit for Academics: A flexible set of activities, from forest walks and reflective journaling to hobby cultivation, each grounded in current research and easy to adapt to local contexts.
  • Manual for University Leaders: An accessible guide to how burnout shows up in higher education, with checklists for early intervention and case studies of proven practices collected across Europe.
  • Communication Package: Ready‑to‑use visuals, message templates, and rollout guides that help institutions spread the project’s lessons quickly across departments.

What makes it different

  • One coherent approach that integrates philosophical reflection, psychological insight, and nature‑based techniques.
  • Choice‑based participation that lets academics select methods that fit their personalities, roles, and stages of career.
  • A culture shift that treats resilience as a shared institutional responsibility, not a private struggle.

Get involved

Over the coming months, the consortium will pilot tools, gather feedback, and release open materials as they mature. You can:

  • Join a pilot and try the Toolkit with your team or department.
  • Attend upcoming workshops and webinars.
  • Share your experiences to shape the final resources.
  • Subscribe for progress updates and release announcements.

UNIC contributors