Start with why, part one: taking a new approach to curriculum developmentGraeme Knowles explains how his team have overturned the long-accepted curriculum development process to make the purpose of the programme and its learning outcomes the starting point rather than the end resultGraeme KnowlesThe University of Warwick
I took an alternative route to academic success – and I’m happier than everI ignored senior management and marketing departments and experimented with making my work more accessible and interesting – it paid off, says Jonathan WilsonJonathan WilsonRegent’s University London
Co-creating an interdisciplinary well-being module for all studentsElena Riva and Wiki Jeglinska explain how academics can work with students to co-create well-being modules that span multiple disciplines and support students’ self-care, drawing on their own experience of collaborating on such a schemeElena Riva, Wiki JeglinskaThe University of Warwick
How to structure a multiple choice question exam Anthony Evans explains how to arrange a multiple choice question exam to provide a fair evaluation of students’ understanding, aid their learning progress and minimise cheatingAnthony J EvansESCP Business School
Let’s harness students’ desire for interaction to define the future of learningWe know that students want to learn together. That information should underpin how we allocate resources to best serve their needs, say Derfel Owen and Ant BagshawDerfel Owen, Ant BagshawUCL, Online Education Services
How to apply virtual reality to enhance learning experiencesIthai Stern outlines how best to shape and deploy virtual reality as a tool to enhance learning experiences, while acknowledging its limitationsIthai SternINSEAD
Study trips and experiential learning: from preparation to post-trip reflectionRebecca Wang outlines the key steps to take before, during and after a successful international field tripRebecca WangUniversity of Westminster
How educators can help creatives cope with constructive criticismJohn Hitchings offers advice for giving helpful feedback and supporting students studying in a creative fieldJohn Hitchings Arden University
Complaining that the leadership talent pool is running dry? Here’s how to fill itAbandoning traditional hierarchies and allowing mid- and early-career staff to experience leadership creates a thriving, diverse talent pool, say Jo Cresswell and Peter HoggJo Cresswell, Peter HoggDr Joanne Cresswell Coaching, University of Salford
Students as reflective practitioners: a personal development journeyProfessional development is often taken for granted and seldom well embedded into university curricula. Alexandra Mihai looks at how intentional learning design can help make it an integral part of students’ learning experienceAlexandra MihaiMaastricht University
Research time disappearing before your eyes? Try student collaborationsWorking alongside students can help academics to both protect their research time and boost student employability, say Dean Fido and Louise WallaceDean Fido, Louise WallaceUniversity of Derby
My Christmas wish? Wider recognition that blended is different from onlineFollowing two years of disruption and jumping between modes of delivery, many students and staff seem to be – incorrectly – conflating blended with online, says Harriet Dunbar-MorrisHarriet Dunbar-MorrisThe University of Portsmouth
What is the long-term impact of online learning?Online learning looks set to remain central to the delivery of higher education long after the pandemic. In this webinar Maryanne Dever and Diana Laurillard discuss what the long-term impact of this might be, on teaching, student support, well-being and the sector as a wholeMaryanne Dever, Diana LaurillardAustralian National University, UCL
Creating worthwhile multiple choice questions for higher education assessmentMultiple choice questions are often frowned on as an assessment tool in higher education. But when well constructed, they offer a clear and transparent way of evaluating student progress, as Anthony Evans explainsAnthony J EvansESCP Business School
Foster mentorship skills to create the socially responsible leaders of the futureInstitutions should look to set up mentorship practices that help students develop the skills they will need to create successful and sustainable companies. Laura-Jane Silverman explains howLaura-Jane Silverman The London School of Economics and Political Science
Building student identities as learners, not consumers, for better academic outcomesStudents who think and act like consumers have worse academic outcomes, research shows. Louise Taylor Bunce shares practical steps to help build students’ identities as learners rather than as consumers of educationLouise Taylor BunceOxford Brookes University
Cybersecurity in the HE sector – getting the basics rightManaging security updates, vulnerability reviews, password policies and multi-factor authentication are staple university needs, says Clive MaddersClive MaddersCyber Tec Security
Transitioning to a PhD: common struggles and how to overcome themCamille Bou outlines the key struggles she encountered during the first year of her PhD and shares useful insight on how she overcame themCamille BouThe London School of Economics and Political Science
How to support academic staff starting the journey of decolonising the curriculumHow do you support the endeavours of academic staff and build student voice into an institution-wide effort to decolonise the curriculum? Mhairi Taylor and Nighet Riaz share lessons from the University of Glasgow’s action planMhairi Taylor, Nighet RiazUniversity of Glasgow
Is your curriculum design limiting students’ learning potential?All too often, insufficient emphasis is placed on development of the self-regulatory skill sets that students need most in order to do well, says Carol EvansCarol EvansCardiff University, University of Southampton
If universities push staff towards social media, they must protect them, tooAt the very least, there should be training on managing online discourse, blocking tools and recognising when ‘robust debate’ becomes abuse or libel, says Andy PhippenAndy PhippenBournemouth University
Universal design for learning: an introduction and getting startedUniversal design for learning offers ways to plan teaching and learning to accommodate diverse students and help learners develop the self-efficacy they need to be successful, says Dara CassidyDara CassidyRCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Building an inclusive learning community to deliver a race equality curriculumRicardo Barker and Syra Shakir reflect on how to set up a curriculum that engages everybody in conversations about race equalityRicardo Barker , Syra ShakirLeeds Trinity University
What can universities learn from Amazon?From putting the customer first to the buzzword that is ‘fulfilment’, there’s much to be gleaned from the way Amazon and its ilk embraced digital technology, says Peter VervestPeter VervestErasmus University Rotterdam
Inclusive pedagogy: using multimedia as a tool to enhance and transform assessmentRachel Challen outlines key steps to enhancing the design, direction and delivery of assessment using digital toolsRachel ChallenNottingham Trent University
Say my name: the importance of correct terms, titles and pronunciationJane Bryan shares lessons in handling people’s names with respect and sensitivity, ensuring correct use and pronunciation to boost feelings of belonging within institutionsJane BryanThe University of Warwick
Keeping it real: bringing practical dimensions into online teaching Pamela Henderson sets out how to bring real world training into the online classroom by developing effective simulated case studies, based on her experience teaching lawPamela HendersonNottingham Trent University
How to make sure assessment practices are as authentic as possibleWe all want employers to be confident that students have the skills to do the job. And these skills still require assessment, it’s just done a little differently, says Paula ReillyPaula ReillyArden University
Turn the marking process on its head by using ‘reverse grading’Davita Günbay explains how reversing the narrative between ‘what I got’ and ‘what I was given’ can help learners engage and take responsibility for their learningDavita Günbay Near East University
The government needs to square its rhetoric on creative coursesUndervaluing the creative sector is nothing new, but the government also says it’s part of a ‘rich mix’ needed to deliver its ambitions. So which one is it, asks Paul ThompsonPaul ThompsonRoyal College of Art
What came next: THE Awards winners 2020 podcast specialHear from some of the winners of last year’s THE awards about the projects and initiatives which saw them recognised as the best in UK higher education and how these have developed since 2020Sara CusterTimes Higher Education, The University of Manchester
How to revitalise student knowledge exchange with local communitiesHow co-creating an ‘umbrella’ programme can help institutions innovate student knowledge exchange and improve engagement with local communities and businesses, a team from Queen Mary University of London explainPatrick McGurk, Joanne Zhang, Fezzan Ahmed, Olivia ReidQueen Mary University of London
Dragon’s zen: how to handle the jump from HE to a commercial ventureThe learning curve is steep when leaving academia for an entrepreneurial adventure. John Miles outlines what to expect and says the skills you learned as a researcher can helpJohn MilesInkpath
Equity, agency and transparency: making assessment work better for students and academics Carol Evans explains how to design assessment and feedback practices that are authentic and deepen students’ learning and confidence in the long term Carol EvansCardiff University, University of Southampton
Putting the case: campaigning documents as assessments on vocational degreesRuss Woodward looks at the merits and practicalities of using campaign-based assessments on vocational higher education coursesRussell WoodwardUniversity Centre, Grimsby: The TEC Partnership
Lessons learned from supervising more than 150 researchersThe transition from PhD candidate to ECR is when the relationship between researcher and supervisor comes to the fore, say Tara Moore and Louise RobertsonTara Moore, Louise RobertsonUlster University
How to deliver healthcare education in a hybrid worldHannah McGee explores solutions to address the unique challenges that universities face in preparing healthcare students for frontline rolesHannah McGeeRCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
In this together: developing meaningful community engagementAnna Walas offers advice for facilitating community engagement with research by considering ways in which effective engagement design can help overcome common barriersAnna WalasUniversity of Nottingham
Universities need to prepare for the mature student onslaughtHigher ed is notoriously bad at attracting and accommodating mature students. Given the workforce shifts spawned by the pandemic, this needs to change, says Dilshad SheikhDilshad SheikhArden University
Developing a growth mindset and experimenting for better teaching outcomesCatherine Seeds explains how a growth mindset and willingness to experiment should be embraced as powerful teaching toolsCatherine Seeds(SRUC) Scotland’s Rural College
How to be comfortable with uncomfortable conversationsRuth Woodfield outlines steps that academics, students and university staff can take to support and work through the discomfort of difficult discussionsRuth Woodfield University of St Andrews
How to develop partnerships that offer students real-world learning experiencesRhianedd Smith shares insight on how to collaboratively create real-world learning experiences for students with professional partnersRhianedd Smith University of Reading
Don’t believe the hype: being an ECR needn’t be a lonely existenceFinding ‘PhD pals’ in the same boat, but also learning to communicate your work effectively outside the research bubble, is crucial for ECRs, says Rebekah AckroydRebekah AckroydUniversity of Cumbria
Co-creation and empowerment: pathways to better student engagementEffective approaches universities can take to promote equity and improve student learning outcomes and employability, shared by a team from the University of SalfordSara Namvar, David Greensmith, Niroshini NirmalanUniversity of Salford
Can universities maintain their cultural identity in a blended world?A university’s identity cannot be neatly packaged. It changes over time and has different meanings to the diverse groups that make up that institution, says Nic BeechNic BeechMiddlesex University
Changing lives through community engagement and outreachJosephine Bleach outlines questions that higher education institutions should ask to help them foster authentic community engagement that improves educational outcomes for children, families and communitiesJosephine BleachNational College of Ireland
Fostering freedom in PhD students: how supervisors can shape accessible paths for doctoral researchClive Palmer looks at alternative approaches to PhDs that open postgraduate research to more candidates – for professional development, career change or just love of learningClive PalmerUniversity of Central Lancashire
Immersive tech in teaching and learning: first steps into the metaverse Virtual, augmented and mixed reality can provide powerful experiences for students, and it’s probably not as difficult as you think. Neil McDonnell provides simple, practical adviceNeil McDonnell University of Glasgow
Strangers in a strange land: how supervisors can support international research studentsRavinder Anand-Ivell explains how early investment of time and empathy can help international postgraduate research students adapt to a new environmentRavinder Anand-Ivell University of Nottingham
How to create an overnight scientific success (in 20 years)Inspirational moments don’t usually happen by chance. Instead, many enabling factors must be put in place over the course of a career, say Peter Hogg and Jo CresswellPeter Hogg, Jo CresswellUniversity of Salford