Eight tips for making teaching and learning more enjoyable for learnersFrom mixing up the teaching space to drawing on real-life examples, Perçem Arman outlines ways to make lessons more fun and thus increase participationPerçem Arman Near East University
Menstruation, maternity, menopause: making space in the academy for all elements of womanhoodDo women’s health policies in higher education meet the needs of those they are meant to serve, and how might the stigma relating to aspects of womanhood be addressed?Christina Dzineku, Devon Oakley-HoggLeeds Trinity University, University of Glasgow
Making conferences more inclusive: opportunities, barriers and lessons learnedCaroline Green and William E. Donald share their experience of organising a one-day conference with inclusivity at its coreCaroline Green, William E. DonaldThe Talent Cycle, University of Southampton, Ronin Institute
How do you leap from research lab to Silicon Valley start-up?The good news is that times of turmoil are ideal for innovation – and far more skills are transferable from bench to IPO than you might imagine. Here are eight actions that will get your start-up off the groundBen ClarkUniversity of Southampton
Make universities disability-inclusive, part one: feedback, access and languageMeredith Wilkinson offers advice on how to promote inclusivity for disabled students and staff at universitiesMeredith WilkinsonDe Montfort University
Breaking academic barriers: large language models and the future of searchThe true potential of generative AI and large language models remains underexplored in academia. These technologies may offer more than just answers. Here’s how the insights they offer could revolutionise academic search and discoveryAdrian RaudaschlElsevier
When it comes to professional development, let’s not forget part-time lecturersWhat could universities do to better support the professional development of part-time teaching staff? Martin W. Andrews and Ruth Lang investigateMartin W. Andrews, Ruth LangThe University of Portsmouth, Royal College of Art, London School of Architecture
Campus talks: unlocking people power through citizen scienceFind out how engaging non-academics in research can uncover and disperse new knowledge and ways of thinking that help shape solutions to seemingly intractable problemsHenrietta L. Moore , Joel Bitok, Alan IrwinUCL, Copenhagen Business School
Devolved research funding in universities – a counter-narrativeUnfunded research could paradoxically add value to an institution’s output, profile and impact. Rosalind Edwards asks what lessons European initiatives can offerRosalind EdwardsUniversity of Southampton
Reconceptualise the ‘classroom’ for enhanced student engagement Student-centred learning strategies that will boost engagement holistically across in-person and digital learning spaces Elena Riva, Heather Meyer The University of Warwick
Autism in academic settings: unleashing unique strengths with adjustmentsPractical accommodations that support autistic individuals in higher education and embrace the strengths they bring to the workforce, fostering inclusion and productivityImogen VarleDe Montfort University
Diversity efforts in academia are leading us towards ‘the oppression Olympics’EDI campaigns and scholarships keep failing ethnic minority students because they are tailored to the needs of white people, writes Andrea E.L. AttipoeAndrea E.L. AttipoeImperial College London
How do we write alternative text for images in education?Descriptions of images in online documents help all readers – not just those with vision impairment – to fully understand the photograph, chart or graph and make the information accessibleMatthew DeeproseUniversity of Southampton
So what? Who cares? The skill of talking about impactDarcey Gillie explains the importance of talking about impact in higher education and offers practical steps on how to do itDarcey GillieThe University of Edinburgh
How to be an ally and support colleagues suffering from long CovidUniversities and employees are still learning about long Covid and how to deal with it, meaning it’s even more important to offer help and reasonable adjustmentsDamien Ridge, Ana Leite, Nisreen Alwan University of Westminster, Durham University , University of Southampton
Student support: four ways to innovate for improvement What fresh approaches could provide more proactive, tailored and cohesive student support? Andy Wistow shares insights from pilot schemes designed to do just thatAndy WistowThe University of Bristol
Do you speak Gen Z or are you a noob?Students want to study with academics who understand them and speak their language rather than learn from people they feel are out of touch. Here’s how to align your lingo and foster engagementJennifer PulkkinenUniversity of Derby
Sparking online joy: five ways to keep students engagedFive guiding principles to use when designing and developing content for short online courses that will keep students engagedAndrés Ordorica , Marcello Crolla, Lizzy Garner-FoyThe University of Edinburgh
How can PhD researchers be supported to complete an alternative format thesis?How universities can best support PhD researchers who wish to produce alternative format theses, based on a review of institutional policiesCaitlin RobinsonThe University of Bristol
Open educational resources to make lifelong learning accessible to allHow open educational resources can be created and managed to ensure courses and materials that support lifelong learning are accessible to all aspiring students at little or no costFiona BucklandThe University of Edinburgh
Enhancing manuscript clarity and ethical credibility with ChatGPTIkenna Uwanuakwa shares experience and tips for using ChatGPT to improve academic writing without falling foul of ethical considerationsIkenna Uwanuakwa Near East University
Want to know what the future of HE looks like? Ask your studentsIt’s time to embrace the student voice to improve inclusivity and innovation, and digital technology can be a massive help, writes Kristen McCartneyKristen McCartneyNorthumbria University
A case study in developing the next STEM generation University ‘taster days’ can introduce teenagers to what global health research and advocacy might be like as a future career. Here four academics describe a pilot training session and what they learned from itMichael Head, Jessica Boxall, Winfred Dotse-Gborgbortsi, Kathryn Woods-TownsendUniversity of Southampton
What is affective learning and how can it foster engagement and critical thinking?It takes time, patience and training, but a teaching approach that recognises the role that emotions play in learning can result in a more positive, effective and impactful student experienceJyoti Devi Mahadeo, Rabindra NepalUniversity of Bradford, University of Wollongong
Biased AI poses a threat to academic freedom that must be confrontedHow academics can manage and guide the use of generative artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT so that it enhances learning and independent thought and does not hamper academic freedomShweta SinghThe University of Warwick
We need to bang the drum for music degreesMusic degrees aren’t as valued as they should be. Universities can do much more to make them attractive to students and parents, argues Sam WaltonSam WaltonRoyal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music
Why hybrid learning needs hybrid faculties Online courses should be integrated into everyday faculty functions to improve remote and in-person classes as well as the overall student experienceAn Jacobs , Norma RossiRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst, Loughborough University, University of St Andrews
How to make access to doctoral study more equitableA three-pronged look at how to make access to doctoral study more equitable and remove barriers to entry that disproportionately impact students from ethnic minority backgrounds, based on findings of the Equator ProjectBenjamin Fernando, Sam Giles, Natasha DoweyUniversity of Oxford, University of Birmingham, Sheffield Hallam University
Create a psychologically safe space for honest feedback between colleaguesA guide to creating a culture of respect and honesty in which colleagues feel safe offering and receiving constructive feedback on their workJennifer PulkkinenUniversity of Derby
Authenticity sells because it mattersWritten communication – whether that’s a press release or IT guidelines – should be clear, sincere and accessible. Here, Mike Brown offers ways to help colleagues build the confidence and skills to tell their stories in an authentic wayMike BrownUniversity of Southampton
Harness human and artificial intelligence to improve classroom debates A guide to using artificial intelligence to support nuanced class debates that train students’ critical thinking and communication skillsElmar KutschCranfield University
What is the cost of students’ social mobility from a community ties perspective?Personal networking strategies can influence successful academic integration and emotional stability of students from under-represented communities in higher education. Here are ways to support these groups, based an analysis of the egocentric networks of Roma students Ágnes Lukács J., Beáta DávidSemmelweis University
The ‘third way’ academic: becoming an education-focused professorCareer development tips for higher education professionals who take an education-focused pathway Rushana Khusainova, Wayne Holland, Sally Everett, David Boughey, Kathy DanielsThe University of Bristol, The University of Exeter, Aston University, King’s College London
Should we trust students in the age of generative AI?A look at how institutions can shape their policies relating to generative AI such as ChatGPT to build trust among students and guide them in its responsible useLoïc PléIÉSEG School of Management
Unlocking urban secrets: learning through the exploration of our cityscapesTeaching strategies to tap into the micro-narratives embedded within the urban landscape to support learning outside the classroomDaniel Gutiérrez-Ujaque , Felipe Saravia University of Lleida , University of Bio-Bio , The University of Manchester
Respectful provocation: the university skill for our times?Challenging students about their assumptions and values makes them better equipped to engage with the challenges of living in a diverse society, writes Mathew GuestMathew GuestDurham University
A checklist for advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in medical sciences and education, part twoThree questions that medical sciences lecturers should ask when revising curricula to promote ethical considerations, an understanding of health inequities and diverse perspectivesMusarrat Maisha Reza, Mia-Rose GillisonThe University of Exeter
Lessons learned from a fellowship year as a dentist and early career researcherWinning a fellowship as a dentist and spending a year in Graz as an international scholar not only taught me about the profession but also fostered my self-awareness, writes Dániel VéghDániel VéghSemmelweis University
Trauma-informed care within academic settingsAs awareness of trauma and its effects on individuals grows, Imogen Perkins delves into what it means to be trauma-informed, and how its five principles could look within an academic setting.Imogen VarleDe Montfort University
How to promote disabled women in academia Disabled women are significantly under-represented in senior roles within universities. Here’s how – and why – institutions can and should support them better for career progression Meredith Wilkinson, Kelly Pickard-SmithDe Montfort University, The University of Manchester
Ten steps to equity: making fieldwork accessibleFieldwork can be isolating for disabled students and academics when it is not designed with inclusivity in mind. Becky Alexis-Martin shares 10 strategies to ensure disabled students and academics are included by field-based disciplinesBecky Alexis-MartinUniversity of Bradford
New students leaving care need extra support to beat the odds (again)Corin Barton says universities must recognise the various impacts a lack of family support can have on care-experienced students and offers simple steps to promote success Corin BartonThe University of Law
How to select and monitor climate adaptations for universitiesIn the fourth and final part of their series, Rob Wilby and Shona Smith explain how universities can implement adaptation measures and monitor their progress towards resilient net zeroRobert Wilby, Shona SmithLoughborough University, University of Leeds
Campus talks: how to be a good mentor and mentee Contributors from across the globe offer their advice on how to make these critical relationships work for everyone involved Campus contributorsCampus
Learning by doing: practical tips from a decade of making MoocsLessons gained during a decade of developing and refining massive open online courses from two online learning experts Stuart Nicol , Fiona BucklandThe University of Edinburgh
How to teach creative writing even if you’ve never done any yourselfA successful writing workshop depends on respect, which is a two-way street, observes Toby Litt. Refrain from sneering at bad writing and offer praise to offset the critiquesToby LIttUniversity of Southampton
How humour stimulates critical thinking, creativity and communication skills After assigning students to write comedy scripts instead of seminar papers, André Martinuzzi and Angelo Spoerk explain how humour has great potential as a learning methodAndré Martinuzzi, Angelo SpoerkVienna University of Economics and Business
An academic’s advice for navigating riskFrom publication to grant applications, the rites of academia come with unfavourable odds. Yet researchers are rarely taught how to deal with uncertainty. Here, Yaniv Hanoch offers mitigation strategiesYaniv HanochUniversity of Southampton
A checklist for advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in medical sciences and education, part oneThree questions that lecturers in medical sciences should ask when revising their curricula to promote diverse representation and health equityMusarrat Maisha Reza, Mia-Rose GillisonThe University of Exeter
How mentor and mentee can help each otherMentorship is a symbiotic relationship. Here, two scientists look at steps in the meeting process and benefits from both sidesGreta Faccio, Maria KoumouriIndependent academic, University of Cyprus