Use welcome workshops to build student belongingA guide to creating induction workshops in collaboration with students – with practical tips on building student confidence and trust Sarah HadlowNottingham Trent University
The need for integrated thinking at universities: from Covid-19 to the SDGsA joined-up approach between universities, public services and businesses – as successfully demonstrated during the pandemic – is now needed if institutions are to accelerate efforts towards the Sustainable Development GoalsAbeer HassanUniversity of the West of Scotland
Three ways to address students’ climate anxietyWhile higher education has made progress with greener campuses and remote working, providing students with an education that can respond to the climate crisis will be more challenging. Here’s how educators can tackle climate anxietyRob AmosBirkbeck, University of London
Make your Freshers’ Week activities singSongwriting sessions, treasure hunts and biscuit decorating are among the creative Freshers’ Week activities that help students build self-confidence, connect with others and ease the transition to university lifeHelen Eadon-SinkinsonUniversity of Chester
Campus talks: the complex factors that drive students’ sense of belongingAn expert in student belonging and engagement in the digital environment explains the nuances of belonging, mattering and inclusion as well as how to foster well-being in higher educationKaren GravettUniversity of Surrey
Engagement isn’t a trade-off – it’s a path to stronger researchREF 2021 placed more emphasis on impact and engagement, meaning we must no longer rely on our research to speak for itself. Read how to engage with those beyond academia to ensure your work has a greater impact on societyFlorian Bauer , Raffaello Rossi The University of Bristol
Be aware of the invisible baggage of poverty your students carryWe need to acknowledge the realities of poverty and inequality, and the trauma it leaves our students with. Here are six principles to make higher education more inclusiveJordan DonnellyUniversity of the West of Scotland
Cultivating a responsible innovation mindset among future tech leaders The classroom is a perfect place to discuss the messy, real-world consequences of technological discoveries, writes Andreas Alexiou. Beyond ‘How?’, students should be asking ‘Should we…?’ and ‘What if…?’ questions around ethics and responsibilityAndreas AlexiouUniversity of Southampton
Bluetooth for better health: using tech to support student well-beingStudents can self-regulate their learning and improve their well-being by spending less time at their desks and more time moving – thanks to Bluetooth headsetsMichelle Civile, Julie Pepper The University of Exeter
How can higher education better support international students with disabilities?Institutions need to work harder to understand international students with disabilities’ needs and challenges, and put in place more obvious and intentional communication with themCarol Evans, Maurie van den Heever, Ralph E. McKinneyUniversity of Salford, GoodX Software, Marshall University
Tackling accent bias: the ‘last acceptable form of discrimination’Accent bias undermines Black international students’ confidence and belonging in UK universities. Institutions must tackle this exclusion through awareness, training, and a proactive celebration of linguistic diversityPatrice SeuwouUniversity of Northampton
Seven questions to ask when reforming academic skills servicesWith academic skills services facing a perfect storm of challenges, many are under review. Here’s how to make sure your students’ needs are being effectively met, through seven questionsSteve Briggs, Ralitsa KantchevaUniversity of Bedfordshire
How to collaborate on eco education – and how not toWhen embedding sustainability education into the curriculum, barriers to interdisciplinary collaboration can limit progress. So, what needs to change?Aideen Foley, Dale Mineshima-Lowe Birkbeck, University of London, Parami University
How inclusive design can transform student well-being: a spiritual perspectiveIntegrate the sacred into the secular by making interfaith spaces inclusive for all. Here’s howYusuf KaplanUniversity of Westminster
How student-led research can build belonging and agency A project that hired students as co-researchers to explore inclusion and connection resulted in higher levels of agency and belonging. Here, the academics behind the scheme share what they learntJen Coleman, Vicki McDermott-ThompsonThe University of East Anglia
Creativity is buffering: why curiosity struggles in a world obsessed with certaintyCreative work demands exploration and uncertainty, but students today have been conditioned to expect fixed outcomes and instant answers. David Thompson explores how that mindset is stalling curiosity and what educators can do to restore itDavid ThompsonUniversity of Lincoln
To foster belonging, make a cultural shiftHere’s how to hone your EDI practices and make your university an anti-discriminatory institution Denise ColesLoughborough University
The power of partnerships in preventing regional talent drainHow one university collaborated with another institution and local employers to address region-specific skills gaps and retain graduates locally – plus advice for others looking to do the sameHanna HopkinsonNottingham Trent University
Campus talks: the secrets of effective policy engagement – from two academics who have worked in governmentTwo academics who are steeped in policy expertise, having worked in government in the UK and US, share practical insights on what works when trying to get research before the eyes of decision-makersDavid R. Garcia, Michael SandersArizona State University, King’s College London
How a collaborative portfolio review can help faculties streamline their teaching offeringHow one school fostered cross-team collaboration to conduct a portfolio review and the lessons those involved learned along the wayMultiple authorsCranfield University
How to overcome ‘forum fatigue’ with activities that students enjoyWhile online forums have been shown to boost learning and retention, if ‘forum fatigue’ sets in, students disengage. Here, Emilie Rutledge proposes a way to design activities that are most likely to elicit student participation Emilie RutledgeThe Open University
‘What I learned when students walked out of my AI class’Chris Hogg found the question of using AI to create art troubled his students deeply. Here’s how the moment led to deeper understanding for both student and educator Chris HoggRoyal Holloway, University of London
Reimagining connection and communication for Gen Z studentsGeneration Z students relate, communicate and build belonging in ways shaped by digital fluency, disrupted in-person learning and evolving social norms. This gives educators an opportunity to rethink how they teachGary F. Fisher, Dean FidoUniversity of Derby
Graduate apprenticeship students are facing a perfect mental health stormGraduate apprenticeships are booming, but the pressure of holding a full-time job while working towards a degree can take a toll on apprentices’ mental health. Here’s what universities and employers can doGary Gillon, Alan MacDonaldUniversity of the West of Scotland
How to succeed as a green leaderSmall projects, broad buy-in, leadership-level commitment and consistent attention to energy, waste and water all add up to a more sustainable campus. Here’s how a UK university turned its climate awareness aroundAndrew Church, Toby MaloyUniversity of Bedfordshire
How to choose the right industry partnersDeveloping long-term, successful industry partnerships starts by choosing the right one. Here’s how to do itAndy ColleyBirkbeck, University of London
Enhance students’ employability with career storytellingTeach your students how to articulate their career narrative and communicate their skills to potential employersLucy Gill-Simmen, Maria SimosiRoyal Holloway, University of London
‘Departmental orthodoxies silence dissent and chill scholarly enquiry’Universities have not handled ongoing challenges around free speech, protest, academic freedom and safety well, writes John Hyman. Here he offers short- and long-term actions to promote secure, pluralistic campuses John HymanUCL
‘We need to be united, confident and proud of who we are’: thoughts on the Supreme Court rulingHow can universities support gender-non-conforming members of their communities in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman?Pippa Catterall University of Westminster
Make social groups work for under-represented students Collaborate with students to create social groups that foster connection among those with shared lived experiences. Above all, ensure these groups have a clear purpose and focus on inclusion, rather than emphasising differenceIan NormanThe University of East Anglia
From peanut butter to effective policy impactIn a sector that often seems tasked with being everything to everyone, each university needs a policy strategy that focuses institutional expertise where it will make the most difference, writes Alistair SackleyAlistair SackleyUniversity of Southampton
Prepare your students for the job market: part twoIn the second part of this two-part series, find out how to coach your students to excel in interviews, from pre-meeting prep to a perfect thank you message Julio Gimenez, Juan C. Palmer, Miguel F. Ruiz-GarridoUniversity of Westminster, Universitat Jaume I
Is the tick-box structure of promotion preventing true collaboration?Academics can be so focused on the hoops they have to jump through on the path to success, they forgo opportunities for genuine collaboration. Perhaps it’s time for a shift in mindset, writes Nick QuinnNick QuinnUniversity of Glasgow
Campus talks: why internationalisation must remain a cornerstone of higher education Hear academic leaders in the UK and Singapore discuss what is needed for effective cross-border collaborationLily Kong, Manuel BarciaSingapore Management University, University of Bath
Ask students what mental health support they needA student-led advisory board can help universities understand what services students will use and how they prefer to engage with supportRyan WongUniversity of Kent
Use a professional student wardrobe to tackle waste and increase employabilityA student-led clothing wardrobe scheme helps students step into professional roles while reducing textile waste. Here’s how to set one up to support both sustainability and student successDebra EasterNottingham Trent University
Principles and practicalities of partnership working with students For effective co-creation with students, university leaders need to move beyond surveys and get them involved in decision-making. The Russell Group institutions together set out best practice steps for doing thisDeborah Gill, Simon ToUniversity of Southampton, UCL
When GenAI resets the assessment baselineGenerative AI is forcing university educators to raise their own bar on creativity, assessment and expectations. Here’s how one teacher reassessed their assignmentChris JonesRegent’s University London
Build empathy with your students – and grow as an academicFind out simple ways to develop empathy in your interactions with students, and the effect it can have on your teaching as a whole Oshan Uluşan Near East University
Prepare your students for the job market: part oneHow can you guide your students to make themselves stand out in a crowded field? In the first of a two-part series, discover six strategies to hone job applications to perfectionJulio Gimenez, Juan C. Palmer, Miguel F. Ruiz-GarridoUniversity of Westminster, Universitat Jaume I
Stop treating disability support as an afterthought Find out what prevents university staff from disclosing invisible disabilities – and steps their institutions can take to change thatChristina Dzineku, James MurrayIndependent academic, University of Buckingham
Ubuntu philosophy: how embracing cultural heritage in the classroom can enhance teachingTeaching that incorporates this African value system prioritises relationship building and authenticity. Here’s how to put it into practiceChipo SimbiUniversity of Southampton
Seven tips to turn teaching practices into scholarship outputs What are universities looking for when they ask for examples of scholarship outputs? Find out what could provide evidence of this work and how it can enhance your academic careerSteve Briggs, Julie HulmeUniversity of Bedfordshire, Nottingham Trent University
Navigating global uncertainty together: reframing our approach to control In an ever-changing academic landscape, focusing on what we can – and can’t – control and influence helps us build resilience. Here, Imogen and Jay offer practical tips and strategies to help you feel more engaged Imogen Varle, Jay CottonDe Montfort University
The path towards a tobacco-free campus For the health of students and staff and the good of the planet, a tobacco-free campus is the only option for a modern university. Özen Aşut shares how the efforts of her students prompted real change in northern CyprusÖzen AşutNear East University
Campus talks: how to look after yourself in higher educationPersonal insights from a range of higher education voices on how they preserve their own well-beingMultiple authorsCampus
Why inclusion in EAP needs a rethinkTeaching English for academic purposes should be inclusive by its very nature. Here’s how to centre student voices, challenge assumptions about academic language, and design learning for meaningful participation and belongingAngelos BakogiannisIndependent academic
‘Creative students need environments where risk feels possible, not paralysing’Creative students are often encouraged to be bold and brave, but it’s hard when doubt, perfectionism and fear of judgement cloud their minds. David Thompson explores what educators can do to help them reconnect with curiosity and playDavid ThompsonUniversity of Lincoln
Arts and humanities scholars can engage with policy, tooAdvice for arts and humanities academics who want to develop their impact profile while staying true to their rootsCharlotte FaucherThe University of Bristol
The power of short courses in transforming the workplaceWhat started out as a business research project into low productivity became a commercially successful short course. Perhaps it’s time to think outside the box and respond to what businesses needRichard SaundryUniversity of Westminster
