Universities must promote pluralism to ward off threats to democracyOnce the moral basis of anyone who disagrees with us is rejected, then democracy inevitably implodes, says Matthew Flinders Matthew FlindersUniversity of Sheffield
How universities can promote ‘democratic competences’ among studentsA guide to how higher education can help develop a culture of democracy among students, through study programmes, a whole institution approach and community engagement, by Sjur BerganSjur BerganCouncil of Europe
Universities aren’t walking the walk on sustainability – not even closeWhile HEIs continue to take tens of millions of pounds from oil companies, their integrity and commitment to the SDGs looks shaky at best, says James DerounianJames DerounianVisiting professor
Assessing career action plans: improving graduate employabilityCareer action plans are assignments designed to guide students in making informed choices and preparing for future jobs. Alexander Bradley explains how they workAlexander BradleyThe University of Portsmouth
Health workers need tech training – for themselves and their patientsThere are huge risks involved if current and future healthcare professionals have to take up new forms of practice such as video consultations without sufficient trainingStefan Rennick-Egglestone University of Nottingham
Using online and blended learning tools to teach data science skillsAdvice on teaching data science skills using online and blended learning tools and resources, by Philip LeftwichPhilip Leftwich The University of East Anglia
Making space for academic colleagues to think about race as part of pedagogyKevin Brazant shares tips on how to use digital content creation to deconstruct themes of equality, diversity and inclusion with colleagues and inform their learning and teaching practiceKevin BrazantLondon Metropolitan University
Making feedback effective for your students and efficient for youEffective feedback is vital to aid students’ learning and progress but must be managed in a way that is realistic for professors’ workloads. Loïc Plé shares his tipsLoïc PléIÉSEG School of Management
Five tips for surviving your doctorate after moving over from industryMoving into the academy after a professional career can be daunting and difficult – and never more so than when penning your thesisKumud Wijayaratna , Ed CottamNorthumbria University
Why and how to bring physical movement into the classroomThere are multiple benefits to bringing regular movement into the classroom, research shows. Stephen Braybrook lists the concerns that prevent educators from doing so, and offers guidance to overcome themStephen BraybrookBrain Move
Rekindling passion for equality, diversity and inclusion workEquality, diversity and inclusion work is too often dogged by scepticism and dismissed as a tick-box exercise. So how can institutional leaders rekindle enthusiasm and belief in the work? Rajani Naidoo shares her top recommendationsRajani NaidooUniversity of Bath
Mind the gap: creating a pathway for post-doctoral researchers to gain teaching experiencePostdoctoral researchers often struggle to secure teaching experience so institutions need to develop opportunities for these academics to support or lead classes. Ellen Bull explains how this can be doneEllen BellThe University of East Anglia
We’ve forgotten how to communicate science to the public at a crucial timeAs we try to tackle climate change, it feels like the pandemic has pushed us back decades to the bad old mode of scientists lecturing the public, says John WomersleyJohn WomersleyUniversity of Oxford
Greener life science labs: the challenge to save energy and reduce wasteHow to decrease the environmental footprint of a life science research centre? Annegrät Daujeumont shares how following a certification programme can help labs embrace sustainability and eco-friendly practicesAnnegrät DaujeumontUniversity of Luxembourg
Career corners: a simple way to improve student job preparationMany students enter their final year with no idea what they wish to do after university. Career corners aim to help by providing job and industry overviews that facilitate informed choicesAlexander BradleyThe University of Portsmouth
We must end the ‘us and them’ standoff between libraries and publishersUniversity libraries and publishers remain at a damaging impasse over digital textbooks – the solution requires communication, collaboration and openness to big ideasLibby HomerAnglia Ruskin University
How to disagree about Covid vaccination and manage other difficult university staff discussionsJonathan Lord outlines the role of empathy and listening skills in navigating potential conflict when colleagues disagree about sensitive issues such as vaccinationJonathan LordUniversity of Salford
Four ways to address breakout room anxietyAri Badlishah draws on her recent experience completing a master’s degree largely online to offer advice on how educators can help minimise students’ anxiety about virtual breakout roomsAri BadlishahThe University of Edinburgh
WhatsApp and campus trails: supporting students in building peer-support networksGroup activities and social networks help students to feel supported. Here’s how to facilitate interactions that build peer-support networksKelly Edmunds , Helen Leggett, Becky LewisThe University of East Anglia
A trauma-sensitive approach to teaching and learningA four-step framework for taking a trauma-sensitive approach to teaching in universities, explained by Kitty WheaterKitty WheaterThe University of Edinburgh
Students supporting educators: are you harnessing the talent of your own graduates?Employing students to support educators not only boosts overall digital expertise but elevates graduate employability, course design and the student voiceLisa Harris, Caitlin KightThe University of Exeter
Using literature reviews to strengthen research: tips for PhDs and supervisorsAnne Wilson explains how to develop a narrative and context for new research through your literature review, with tips for early career researchers and their supervisorsAnne WilsonRoyal Literary Fund
Non-linear approaches to course structure that improve learningBreaking up teaching content into chunks that can be repeatedly revisited offers educators a non-linear approach to learning. Chris Jones shares advice for designing online coursesChris JonesPearson College London
How to become a deanPaul Baines talks through the pros and cons of being a dean, plus the skills you’ll need to display during the recruitment process to get therePaul BainesUniversity of Leicester
Hidden in plain sight: spotlighting invisible Black female academics Jummy Okoya outlines actions higher education institutions should take to encourage more Black women into academia and support their career progressionJummy OkoyaUniversity of East London
Slowing down earlier in the pandemic went well – so why speed back up?The online tools adopted in the past two years do have positives, but they’ve also created a new kind of pressure – the pressure to be everywhere at onceShari Boodts, Frederik van DamRadboud University
Six tips for writing a successful book proposalAn interesting concept is not enough to guarantee your book will get published. In crafting a pitch, it helps to be succinct and targeted and to show an ability to deliver Simon ClarkIndependent academic
Constructive use of varied assessment methodsLayal Hakim explains when and how to implement different types of assessment throughout a course in order to support learningLayal HakimThe University of Exeter
Meritocracy in the academy isn’t fit for purpose – but we can fix itInstitutions need to think about who they’re picking and foster both literacy and competence around minority issues as the first steps to a true meritocracyrashné limki The University of Edinburgh
What is peer review and why it is important?Peer review is the lifeblood of good science. But understanding the process can take time, and gaining review experience can be daunting. Marc Gillett explains the key elements of this critical component of scienceMarc GillettIOP Publishing
Digital Universities Week UK task force: put people at the heart of digital transformation Ahead of Digital Universities Week UK, a task force of four university leaders in the UK gives advice on how to roll out digital transformation on campus – from staff buy-in to securing your networksCampus team, Imogen Brighty-PottsCampus
Video makes the coding star: teaching problem-solving in bite-sized chunks online Aidan McGowan explains how converting practical coding ‘labs’ into a series of short videos taking students through the problems step-by-step has improved learning outcomesAidan McGowanQueen’s University Belfast
What parents need to succeed in academia and how universities can helpFrom working hours that fit in with childcare to a place to pump, Nadia von Benzon explains how universities can support staff who are parentsNadia von BenzonLancaster University
International partnerships drive SDG progress – how do we support them? Diverse partnerships encompassing various sectors and organisations help mobilise resources and encourage collaboration that can address societal challenges more efficientlyJoanna Newman, Maddalaine Ansell The Association of Commonwealth Universities, British Council
Embedding gender equality: building momentum for changeEileen Drew explains how positive leadership, data-informed actions and priorities, mass engagement and collaboration all feed into a successful gender equality initiativeEileen DrewTrinity College Dublin
Fool’s gold: career advice for young, Black academics Freshly minted professor Jason Arday provides tips for aspiring Black and ethnic minority academics on how to safeguard themselves on the hazardous journey to the topJason ArdayUniversity of Glasgow
Pivoting university course offerings to upskill the workforce Teresa Ironside outlines how universities can develop their course portfolio to meet changing workplace skills demands and deliver education to a wider range of learnersTeresa IronsideThe University of Edinburgh
How do we get more women into coding? Fix how it’s taught and usedIt’s time women said to the tech industry: ‘It’s not me, it’s you.’ And universities can help by not confusing the art of computer programming with rather dull ‘careers in coding’Andy FarnellVisiting professor
Is the ‘sunk cost fallacy’ sinking your career?Making the decision to move away from research can be daunting, but a big dose of rational thinking can help you make the right choice, says Emma WilliamsEmma WilliamsEJW Solutions
Working with student activists to speed up progress towards a sustainable futureJaime Toney explains how working with grassroots student activists can help accelerate institutional action towards the Sustainable Development GoalsJaime ToneyUniversity of Glasgow
The case for using universal design for learning at your institutionUniversal design for learning can be the answer when searching for true equity in our universities. Jacqui Whittle and Caroline Pike outline the how and whyJacqui Whittle, Caroline PikeArden University
Easy as ABC: design an online course in 90 minutesWant to create an online course but not sure where to start? Lizzy Garner-Foy shares tips on how to create engaging online learning using a quick, easy method: ABC Learning Design.Lizzy Garner-FoyThe University of Edinburgh
How to use social media more effectively in teaching and research, part one: your recording set-upAndy Miah shows how academics could set up their workspace to record good-quality video content for use on social mediaAndy MiahUniversity of Salford
How to start an academic YouTube channel: tips from a psychology YouTuberYouTube is a wide-open opportunity for university teachers and researchers to share their knowledge with a broader audience, says Dennis Relojo-HowellDennis Relojo-HowellThe University of Edinburgh
Widening access to postgraduate studies: from research to strategy to actionProviding equitable access into and through higher education is a constant battle, especially in postgraduate research, but barriers can be addressed when evidence is connected to action, as Diane Gill explains Diane GillThe University of Edinburgh
How to teach critical thinking to beginnersSarah Ivory explains how she teaches critical thinking through application rather than theory, tasking students with applying three core elements of the process in their regular classesSarah IvoryThe University of Edinburgh
How to create a sense of belonging for black students in a majority white academy Taking active, practical and nuanced approaches to ensuring the belonging of black students in majority white universities, at a micro and macro level, is everyone’s responsibility, explains Edith Lewis Edith LewisCanterbury Christ Church University
Building student social networks offlineBecky Lewis explains how to purposefully encourage and support students in forming social bonds and groups after two years of remote learning, isolated from their peers and lecturersBecky LewisThe University of East Anglia
How to work with Forage to implement virtual internshipsBen Powell provides tips and reflections on how universities can improve student employability using Forage, a free online platform offering a range of virtual internship programmes Ben PowellUniversity of Westminster
Top tips to improve the teaching of mathematics in universitiesLayal Hakim shares advice for improving higher education mathematics teaching, from preparation to delivery stylesLayal HakimThe University of Exeter