Helping Black students thrive in art educationHow to make art school a welcoming, inclusive environment for Black students, and support them into artistic careers Emily MooreRoyal College of Art
Campus talks: the role of universities as bastions of free speech and open debate in polarised timesAn expert in constructive dialogue and a free speech campaigner explain how universities can nurture productive disagreement and uphold the principles of free speech and academic freedom in the face of growing polarisationCaroline Mehl, Abhishek Saha Constructive Dialogue Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Support smaller businesses’ sustainability efforts through education For businesses to improve their sustainability, they first need to understand how. Here, Paula Whitehouse shares lessons from a programme specially developed to educate executives in environmental strategiesPaula WhitehouseAston University
Support students’ mental health with bespoke workshopsWith mental health concerns and student suicide rates increasing, a partnership with St John Ambulance offered a practical way to support students to ask for help when they need it. Here’s how it worked Lisa SimmonsManchester Metropolitan University
Five considerations for effective group work Why struggle through setting and assessing group tasks when this teaching approach can present considerable challenges around communication and conflict? These insights offer ways to design tasks that will benefit both educators and students Donna Hurford, Andrew ReadUniversity of Southern Denmark, London South Bank University
How to help autistic students adjust to life on campusWith autistic students’ drop-out rate spiking, here’s how to help them ease into their university career, allow for neurodiversity-friendly socialising and reduce their anxiety with a furry friendTabitha BillerDe Montfort University
How to get started with pedagogic research (and actually publish it)Pedagogic research is increasingly central to teaching excellence in higher education, yet many academics are unsure how to begin. Discover how to shape your idea, secure funding, navigate ethics and find the right publication for your workMultiple authorsThe University of Bristol
A community-university partnership is a relationship, not an affairLong-term, mutual benefits of civic engagement emerge slowly, which can be at odds with university timelines. A ‘new’ 10-year project shows how trust and commitment need persistence to pay offMhairi McVicar, Ali Abdi, Corey SmithCardiff University
Campus webinar: the secrets of international student successFour academics based in the UK and France discuss how universities can ensure international students fulfil their potential throughout and after their studiesAllan Atlee, Joanna Daaboul, Helen Galbraith, Felipe KochUniversity of the Arts London, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, University of Chester, Université Paris-Est Créteil
Authentic assessment for inclusivity and employabilityDesigning an educational studies course for international learners meant rethinking assessment, from traditional exams to a more practical, student-informed approach. Here’s what workedXiao QuUniversity of the West of Scotland
Technical knowledge and expertise is more valuable than you thinkInvolving technical staff in decision-making committees can lead to more efficient practices and remove siloed thinking or practices, which benefits individual technicians, institutions and the sectorJiteen AhmedAston University
How to widen participation? Make it personalDespite admissions numbers soaring, students from low-income backgrounds are still missing out on the best graduate jobs. Here’s how personalised one-to-one coaching can dismantle the invisible barriers to career successOllie TaylorUpReach, University of Liverpool
Mapping employability skills across curriculaA mandatory university-wide initiative shows how mapping professional skills against all programmes can tailor students’ work readiness no matter their career pathKaty GordonUniversity of Southampton
Foster allyship to support marginalised groups in higher educationHow to initiate change, create safe spaces for difficult conversations and nurture a culture of allyship in your departmentReuel Blair, Tizzy GillNottingham Trent University, Birmingham City University
Seeing is believing: how to make internationalisation countSimply being international is no longer enough in higher education. Internationalisation needs to demonstrate impact and return on investment – and to do that, it needs to be seen, writes Michael ScottMichael ScottThe University of Warwick
The dos and don’ts of successfully developing an international network in higher educationInternational collaborations sound impressive on paper – but most fail to move beyond initial enthusiasm and a signed memorandum of understanding. Jeremy Howick shares lessons from building a global network focused on empathy in healthcareJeremy HowickUniversity of Leicester
Snails, Jaffa Cakes and rubber ducks: making outreach playfulOutreach initiatives like ‘School Tasking’ show how academics can break down barriers, engage young learners, and make higher education feel accessible rather than intimidatingAli Struthers, Alex HorneThe University of Warwick
From library-focused project to campus-wide collaborationA heritage trail to mark an anniversary event began life in the library, but how to extend its reach to the rest of the university? Here’s what one library team learned when they collaborated across their institutionRachael Jones, Neal Buchanan, Carol StewartUniversity of Strathclyde
Better together? The secret to successful collaborative arts and humanities PhD researchInsights into managing collaborative relationships in arts and humanities PhD research, based on Alastair Owens’ extensive experience with museums and doctoral studentsAlastair OwensQueen Mary University of London
How research technical professionals can enhance research infrastructure funding bidsWhen technicians are empowered and supported, they don’t just contribute to best practice and equipment sustainability, they can boost bids for investment in infrastructureAlex LaudeNewcastle University
A clear vision for university-community partnershipsMutual respect, actively listening to each other’s perspectives and clear mechanisms to evidence impact should be the foundation of a university-community collaboration. Here’s how a project to improve local children’s eye health grew into an ongoing partnershipLeon Davies, Rachel Shaw, Guy RipponAston University, Aston Villa Football Club
How students really feel about collaborative tasks in online learningOnline learning often includes paired or group work, but research has found this can often provoke anxiety in students. Here’s how to listen to what they want and build the skill of collaborationPoppy Gibson, Sagun Shrestha, Helena Staszkiewicz The Open University
Faith, freedom and fairness: a balancing act for universitiesCan UK universities protect the right for students to voice difficult views while ensuring that no student feels that their opinions or beliefs make them a target for prejudice?Lucy PeacockUniversity of Cambridge
Reimagining PhD supervision through allyship, creativity and decolonising practiceHow a creative, person-centred and decolonising approach to PhD supervision can transform outcomes for postgraduate researchers from diverse and non-traditional backgroundsUrsula HurleyUniversity of Salford
Three strategies to close the exam feedback gapExams are still a common choice of assessment, but do they really offer the feedback students need? Here’s how to make exam feedback impactfulEdd Pitt, Naomi WinstoneUniversity of Kent, University of Surrey
Campus talks: the future of doctoral research funding for arts and humanities An award-winning historian shares insights on changes to the PhD funding landscape in the UK and how early career scholars can maximise their chances of securing supportAlice TaylorKing’s College London
Critical thinking v fake news: a case study In this age of disinformation, how can universities embed critical thinking skills in their local communities? A face-to-face workshop could be the answerLaura BradnamBirkbeck, University of London
Interprofessional simulation in HE: three tips to help you get it rightInterprofessional simulation enables educators to deliver healthcare teaching and learning in immersive settings beyond the traditional classroom. Here are three ways to make it a successJon NewtonUniversity of the West of England Bristol
AI as an access tool for neurodiverse and international staffUsed transparently and ethically, GenAI can level the playing field and lower the cognitive load of repetitive tasks for admin staff, student support and teachersVanessa Mar-MolineroUniversity of Southampton
Let’s rethink recruitment for an inclusive university cultureRecruitment remains rooted in tradition – but this could be more detrimental to an inclusive culture than we think. Here’s how to tweak the process to allow every candidate to show what they can do Rachael CornwallBuckinghamshire New University
From discomfort to dialogue: how to teach controversial topics with confidenceTeaching sensitive topics can be challenging, but with structure and openness, they can become powerful opportunities for learningCraig Harper, Rebecca LievesleyNottingham Trent University
Embracing superdiversity: a concrete path for universitiesThe richness of an academic community lies in connecting people of different backgrounds, approaches and perspectives. But this does not happen by chance; it requires intentionality, vision and daily commitment, writes Francesco BillariFrancesco BillariBocconi University
Why employability gaps widen as academic identity deepensThe more tightly researchers’ identities bind to the university, the less ready they often feel for life beyond it. Naming two modes of working, depth and outbound, can help universities close the employability gapAlys KayUniversity of Liverpool
Can transferable skills be taught in distance learning?As workplaces are increasingly AI-integrated and hybrid, can teaching transferable skills – including body language – in a virtual learning environment, in some cases, offer a more authentic education experience?Emilie Rutledge, Jonquil LoweThe Open University
Three ways to hone your university library services for ultimate student satisfactionDitch the doughnuts and cut your cloth – find out the small changes that can have a big impact on student satisfaction in their university libraryKaren Lloyd, Ruth ClarkUniversity of Chichester
Three easy tweaks to make your teaching autism-friendlyAutistic students have the highest university dropout rate of any disability group. What can teaching staff do about it?Cora Beth FraserThe Open University
Connecting and empowering technical staff: lessons for universitiesTechnicians themselves will have many of the answers to the challenges they face and can bridge staff groups, but their roles are often siloed or isolated. These suggestions build networks and communicationJohn NicolsonUniversity of Cambridge
Investing in futures: maximising legacy gifts in higher educationLegacy giving provides a valuable and sustainable source of income for charities but it’s still relatively untapped in the higher education sector. With universities and students under increasing financial pressure, now is a good time to make it a priority. Here’s how to get startedCarolyn JonesUniversity of Liverpool
Make university placements work for students and employersWell-structured university placements can bridge theory and practice, build professional skills and reduce inequalities. Discover how to get them rightRebecca Crutchley, Michelle PalserUniversity of Chester
Building legal resilience in Ukraine: lessons from a twinning partnershipInsights from a UK-Ukrainian university partnership that overcame the challenges presented by war and working across borders to produce a new legal dictionary and strong trusting academic relationships Erica ArthurUniversity of Birmingham
Preparing media studies students for an unknown futureToday’s media studies students need more than technical skills – they need the agility to survive in a changing industry. Here’s how to teach film, TV and digital media to the next generation of storytellers Doug SpechtUniversity of Westminster
Show, not just say, that your institution is a place for everyonePut belonging at the heart of your diversity and inclusion strategy. Here’s how a fund for inclusive projects put money and strategy behind wordsMoni Akinsanya Liverpool John Moores University
How to train PhD JediTraining PhD students is less about supervision and more about empowerment. By fostering independence, creativity and diversity, supervisors can nurture the next generation of scientific leaders, and even unlock discoveries that reshape the fieldLars ChittkaQueen Mary University of London
Mind the gap: how an industry-university partnership brought theory into practiceRegular communication, flexibility in timelines, a willingness to look beyond academic disciplines and a shared commitment to the bigger picture kept this university-industry research collaboration on trackXiaojun Zhai, Michael HayesUniversity of Essex, Railscape
Beyond learning design: supporting pedagogical innovation in response to AITo avoid an unwinnable game of catch-up with technology, universities must rethink pedagogical improvement that goes beyond scaling online learningCharlotte von EssenStockholm School of Economics
The great interdisciplinarity illusion – and what to do about itAll too often, modules that claim to be interdisciplinary are really multidisciplinary. Here’s how universities must change thatSimon ScottUniversity of Birmingham
AI for feedback: what to keep in mind when developing your own tool Building an AI tool in-house allows institutions to retain control in a landscape increasingly dominated by external solutions. Here’s how to involve students, uphold ethical standards and navigate resistanceIsabel Fischer , Sean Enderby, Ross HunterThe University of Warwick
From lab to London Stock Exchange: six lessons for quantum tech founders who want to change the worldDeep-tech commercialisation requires different strategies from those that drive typical start-ups. Three university collaborators share six practical lessons from transforming quantum research into a public company with a £14.8 million valuationRob Young, Alan Gilchrist, Mark RushforthLancaster University
Embrace mistakes in your teaching and help your students learn from themIncorporating mistakes into your teaching can be transformative. Here’s how to introduce the idea of failing to your students in a controlled environmentÖzen ÇatalNear East University
Campus talks: how to unlock motivation and beat procrastination in your students and yourselfTwo academic researchers and lecturers discuss the many factors that boost short- and long-term motivation and how to get yourself started when procrastination threatensIan Taylor, Helena SeliLoughborough University, University of Southern California
