A common enemy approach to anti-racism in higher education We need to rethink how we understand and advance anti-racism work in universities, treating racism as ‘our common enemy’ and adopting a unified approach to tackling it, writes Paul MillerPaul MillerThe Institute for Equity, University Centre
Campus talks: are we facing a crisis in critical thinking in higher education?Two academic experts in strategic decision-making and education discuss critical thinking, why it is under threat and what role it plays in preparing students for their digitally curated futures Olivier Sibony, Tony WagnerHEC Paris, Learning Policy Institute
How to build unbreakable self-confidence: an academic’s guide A strong foundation of professional self-confidence is crucial when treading the academic career path. Follow these five tips to cement yoursAyten Erçoban Evren Near East University
An early career researcher’s guide to impactResearch impact can often be reduced to an administrative task, yet looking past metrics and seeing your work come to life can be incredibly rewarding. Here’s how to connect with the ‘why’ of your researchAndy Phippen, Louise RuttUniversity of Plymouth, Bournemouth University
How should assessors use AI for marking and feedback?While much attention has focused on students’ use of GenAI, its potential to support assessors has mostly been overlooked. Here, Isabel Fischer shares draft principles co-created at a cross-institutional workshop to guide its responsible use in assessment, marking and feedback.Isabel Fischer The University of Warwick
How community events can improve staff and student well-beingRegular, inclusive community events can play a vital role in improving mental health and well-being for both students and staff in higher education. Read about how simple, low-cost activities can foster connection, ease pressure and build a stronger university cultureJanine Wilkinson, Jean-Charles de CoriolisThe University of East Anglia
Four questions to ask to detect false news onlineEven those working in higher education can fall for misinformation. Ask these four questions to get better at zeroing in on false news Peter Cunliffe-JonesThe University of Westminster
‘We must replace critical thinking with intuitive critical thinking’Developing students’ basic critical thinking skills is not enough – intuitive critical thinking is needed in order to expand cognitive capabilities and understand real-world issues, explains Patrik K. MeyerPatrik K. MeyerUniversity of Zurich
When open data meets publish-or-perish At every stage of the research process, critical thinking acts as a compass – it urges caution against overconfident claims and reminds us that the goal is understanding, not mere output, writes Timo LorenzTimo LorenzMSB Medical School Berlin
Four ways to boost diversity in environmental scienceThe barriers to STEM subjects start long before students apply. From rigid entry requirements to a lack of representation, here are four, with practical ways to build a more inclusive environmental science pipeline Abby OnencanThe University of East Anglia
Information literacy is a core skill – and libraries are ideally placed to embed itLibrarians can be instrumental in developing students’ information literacy. Here’s how one university library developed a course to improve information literacy skills in healthcare disciplinesMarine RigeadeUniversité Paris-Est Créteil
How to empower your university to integrate generative AI using tools and talent you already haveMany institutions must navigate limited resources, uncertainty around tools and questions of capacity if they are to embrace generative AI. This guide outlines six practical, scalable steps that build on expertise and institutional strengthsJon DemiglioESMT Berlin
Universities must stop tiptoeing around debate – appoint free speech championsAs new legal duties on free speech come into force, Mark Butterick argues that universities must move beyond token policies and foster a culture where open debate is genuinely protectedMark ButterickUniversity of Leeds
Campus talks: using social media not as a tool but as a teacher in higher educationWhat can university educators learn about teaching and audience engagement from social media? Two experts – a psychologist and a professor of public relations – share strategies for connecting with students, finding wider audiences for niche research, and fighting misinformation Peter Lovatt, Cayce MyersDoctor Dance, Virginia Tech
A guide to embedding esports for employabilityCompetitive video gaming is growing – and its power could be harnessed in your classroom. Here’s how to integrate esports to foster transferable skills in studentsGavin BaxterUniversity of the West of Scotland
(Re)learning critical reading in the age of GenAI Rather than pretending students can – or even should – avoid GenAI to become critical readers, we need to develop their critical reading skills so they can successfully interrogate AI-produced materialsBrendan CareyThe University of Exeter
Are students outsourcing the wrong tasks to AI?Students are using AI to tackle tasks that could be crucial to intellectual development. How can educators judge which tasks to offload and which ones are important for learning?Alex Grzankowski Birkbeck, University of London
How ‘memory institutions’ can preserve our digital future In an era of disappearing textbooks and locked-down digital archives, here’s what universities must do to protect access to knowledgeBeatrice MurchInternet Archive Europe
Tips to help international students feel at home from day oneTim Hewes-Belton offers advice on designing bespoke welcome activities for international students to help them settle into UK university lifeTim Hewes-BeltonLoughborough University
Why academics should adopt a podcaster’s mindsetLaunching a podcast helped Mark Carroll gain new perspective on communicating research to the public. Here are four lessons he learnedMark CarrollUniversity of the West of Scotland
Four stages to develop problem-solving skillsUse this four-step framework to help your students work through problems and develop their analytical and creativity skillsHoury Melkonian, Vicki Brown, Cris BurgessThe University of Exeter
The subtle curriculum: how to embed ESG in business education organicallyAre we marginalising environmental, social and governance considerations in treating them as optional extras? Here’s how to subtly integrate them into business coursesDaniel MuravskyUniversity of the West of Scotland
When we encourage AI use, how can we still assess student thinking?As more university educators encourage students to use GenAI, how can we ensure assessments still reward critical thinking and originality? Isabel Fischer reflects on emerging usage patterns and shares practical design tips for meaningful, AI-inclusive assessmentIsabel Fischer The University of Warwick
Tap into game dynamics in nurse trainingLearn lessons from the gaming world to structure nursing courses, strengthening student engagement and improving pass ratesCaroline Barau, Magali VergnesUniversité Paris-Est Créteil
Is the dissertation dead? If so, what are the alternatives?Dissertation alternatives, such as capstone projects and applied group-based projects, could better prepare graduates for their future careers. Discover what these might look likeRushana Khusainova, Sarah Sholl, Patrick Harte The University of Bristol, Edinburgh Napier University
Why parents and carers networks matter to university staffAdvocacy, activities, peer support and safe spaces are among the reasons to institute a network for university faculty and staff with caring responsibilitiesClaire PartridgeUniversity of Southampton
How reflective remediation can set medical students up for successA workshop designed to help struggling students reflect on their mid-term assessment shortcomings led to 86 per cent of participants passing their end-of-year exam. See how it workedEllen LowryThe University of East Anglia
Campus talks: university libraries – and librarians – that are leading the changeLearn about the efforts of US librarians to protect valuable public data from sudden erasure by the Trump administration and a pioneering project which saw a UK university partner with a local council to create a joint library that is open to anyoneDavid Green, Lynda KellamUniversity of Worcester, University of Pennsylvania
Five tips when embedding gamification in the classroomGamification and game-based learning can centre students in the learning experience and improve university enrolment rates. Here’s how to get startedGustavo Espinoza Ramos , Gunter SaundersThe University of Westminster
Is graduate employability a core university priority? Universities, once judged primarily on the quality of their academic outcomes, are now also expected to prepare students for the workplace. Here’s how higher education is adapting to changing pressuresKatherine Emms, Andrea LaczikThe Edge Foundation
A proactive approach to retaining nursing studentsRead about a multi-dimensional retention strategy designed to reduce nursing student attrition by combining data, feedback and early interventionRebekah Hill, Lorraine Randlesome, Rachel LewisThe University of East Anglia
How to meaningfully include disabled people in patient and public involvement activitiesMeaningful inclusion of disabled people in research activities helps ensure the resulting findings are useful for informing healthcare delivery in the real world. These practical tips explain how to do itAnna Anderson, Amy M. RussellUniversity of Leeds
Using social media to connect cohortsA digital poster competition that encouraged comments on social media can spark conversations between under- and postgraduate students. Here’s how it worksSam Perry , Robert Clarke, Lucy MannieUniversity of Southampton
The tough lessons that build resilience in forensic science studentsTo avoid causing students unnecessary harm when teaching sensitive topics, consider a trauma-informed approach. Carrie Mullen outlines howCarrie MullenUniversity of the West of Scotland
‘As a teacher of responsible business, I’m banning GenAI in my classroom’We need our students to develop intellectual curiosity, to respect each other enough to want to hear each other, and become informed, thoughtful citizens, writes Maja Korica. Generative AI is getting in the way of thatMaja KoricaIÉSEG School of Management
Get yourself unstuck: overthinking is boring and perfectionism is a trapThe work looks flawless, the student seems fine. But underneath, perfectionism is doing damage. David Thompson unpacks what educators can do to help high-performing students navigate the pressure to succeed and move from stuck to startedDavid ThompsonUniversity of Lincoln
Ready your teaching for the AI era with this six-part frameworkAI can help educators reclaim what they love most about teaching – but they need to approach it with an intentional mindset. The six steps of the THRIVE framework can guide the way Patrick LynchHult International Business School (Ashridge)
The unexpected benefits of academic bloggingAcademic blogging can open doors to collaboration and career growth. Discover its benefits, and learn how to build a culture that supports it.Jenny ScolesThe University of Edinburgh
How can we support Black neurodivergent students?Black neurodivergent students face distinct barriers at the intersection of racism and ableism, so here are ways universities can go beyond generic policies to offer truly inclusive, intersectional supportPatrice SeuwouUniversity of Northampton
Campus talks: what does it take to successfully commercialise research?A technology transfer expert and biotech spin-out founder explain the steps involved in moving discoveries from the lab to the marketMairi Gibbs, Andrew HammondUniversity of Oxford, Imperial College London
Business schools should go beyond the classroom for social impactTo meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals, business schools should consider hands-on community projects which also boost students' employability and give them a sense of purposeSobia Razzaq , Kumari Juddoo , Sheeja Sivaprasad , Sudha Mathew The University of Westminster
‘An academic career is not a heptathlon’The secret to establishing a career in academia is focus and deliberate choices, whether the path is into research, teaching or impact. Here, Robert MacIntosh explains why persistence and planning are more important than everRobert MacIntoshUniversity of the West of Scotland
How to run a bursary scheme for your students with no admin supportHow one lecturer launched and ran a career development bursary with no administrative support, using digital tools and smart workflows to keep the process efficient and effectiveW. Victoria LeeThe University of Edinburgh
When a scientist becomes an inventorA novel scientific discovery can catapult a researcher from the bench to being an entrepreneur. Here, Greta Faccio shares considerations for next steps in commercialising an inventionGreta FaccioIndependent consultant
Leading a personal development review? Think about GenAI for scholarshipWith personal development reviews taking place over the summer, perhaps this is the moment to focus on how teaching and learning practitioners are using GenAI for efficiency in terms of scholarshipSteve BriggsUniversity of Bedfordshire
Case-based discussion as an authentic healthcare assessment method Case-based discussion has been well received as an assessment method. Here are other reasons to use it, along with tips on how to make it work wellMultiple authorsThe University of East Anglia
How to bring university science into primary schoolsEngaging primary-school-age children with STEM will help them to think critically and develop informed opinions for the rest of their lives. Here’s how to do itFarah Jaber-HijaziUniversity of the West of Scotland
How not to fall victim to a cyberattackWhere is your university vulnerable to ransomware or access via a third-party provider? Here are ways to reduce risk and maintain security across your IT networkNicole StewartJisc
How to write even when the words won’t comeBooks, articles and grant proposals do not arrive in a single stroke. They are created, like sculptures, through a thousand small movements. Here, Catherine De Vries explains how to develop ‘skill power’Catherine De VriesBocconi University
What do students want from AI-assisted teaching?In an age of AI, educators and students need ways to ensure the technology complements learning rather than detracts from or homogenises itOmar Merlo , Nai LiImperial College London