Feature article

What comes next for the block model in university teaching?

Six critical challenges face higher education institutions that have adopted block planning for their teaching schedules as the approach matures and expands globally, writes John Weldon

John Weldon

Victoria University

A librarian assists a student using a tablet

Anatomy of a term paper: using information literacy skills with AI

How can librarians support students in developing information literacy skills and putting them to use in an AI-enabled world? Follow each step of researching and writing a term paper and find out how to encourage students to use their skills effectively along the way

Aster Zhao, Samson Choi, Gabi Wong

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Two students working on a laptop together

From static to dynamic: how a Moodle plugin makes tutorials more interactive

Transforming quizzes from static assessments into live learning tools, JazzQuiz enables real-time feedback, anonymous participation and adaptive teaching, fostering deeper engagement, dialogue and understanding

Ying Feng

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Greeting first-year university students with ‘structured serendipity’

Students start university with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Institutions should address that emotional landscape early – to help incoming cohorts adjust to newfound independence, discover what it takes to succeed academically and find their place to belong

Stephen Biscotte

Virginia Tech

GenAI’s personalised learning could be a game-changer for disabled and neurodivergent students

Using GenAI to provide a truly learner-centric approach to both online and in-person learning could make a real difference to disabled and neurodivergent students. Here’s how

Lynne Beveridge, Melody Terras, Graham Scott, Naeem Ramzan

University of the West of Scotland

How can we teach students about social value?

Students increasingly expect universities to reflect their social conscience. Business schools must go beyond profit-focused teaching, embedding social value, impact measurement and experiential learning, says Robert A. Phillips

Robert A. Phillips

The University of Manchester

How to prepare graduates for a bicultural and global future

Embedding Indigenous perspectives into curriculum requires more than symbolic gestures. Here’s how universities can move from compliance to transformation – and the practical steps we’ve learned from our journey

Joce Nuttall, Liz Brown

University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

How to navigate power dynamics in academia

Working under different managers and management styles can be as much of a learning curve for early career academics as their work. Find out how to stay balanced in a changing workplace

Ahmet Küçükuncular

Near East University

Designing inclusive welcome experiences in creative education

In creative education, where students’ confidence in identity and self-expression are central, their question at induction might not be ‘Where’s my timetable?’ but ‘Do I belong?’ This consideration is key for universities welcoming diverse cohorts

Sachan Williams

University of the Arts London

A chess player moving a rook across the board

Managing upwards in higher education, part 1: structural and political skills

Strategies for academics on working effectively with managers while protecting their time, integrity and career trajectory

Tom Chapman

University of Southampton

A lecturer is illuminated by the stage lights

The lecture is dead – long live the performance

An electrifying lecture can still engage students and bring them together in a way ChatGPT can’t compete with. Discover the key elements of stagecraft and how to apply them to your lecture performances

Matthew Alford, Thommie Gillow

University of Bath

Taking pedagogy to the provost’s office

The skills that make effective teachers – adaptability, empathy, presence and reflection – also shape impactful university leaders. Here, Bill Owen shares leadership lessons he learned in the classroom

William J. Owen

University of Northern British Columbia

Miro and GenAI as drivers of online student engagement

A set of practical strategies for transforming passive online student participation into visible, measurable and purposeful engagement through the use of Miro, enhanced by GenAI

Jaime Eduardo Moncada Garibay

CETYS Universidad

Students working on a COIL project in class

Five tips for running a successful COIL project

Discover ways to encourage collaboration, nurture curiosity and equip students with the skills they need to succeed in collaborative online learning projects

Gareth J. Williams, Glenn A. Williams

Nottingham Trent University

‘Every faculty member should go on campus tours’

When one university professor went undercover to find out how different colleges welcome prospective students and their parents, he found out what institutions should, and should not, do in their visit programming

Robert Talbert

Grand Valley State University

Workers in hard hats and hi-vis discuss their plans

The autonomy paradox: why graduate apprentices need both freedom and support to thrive

Graduate apprentices who report high levels of autonomy in their workplace learning don’t necessarily achieve better outcomes. Here’s what they need to succeed

Elaine Jackson, Alan MacDonald

University of the West of Scotland

Young male student looking thoughtfully at a laptop

Solving the soft skills crisis using artificial intelligence

Employers seek transferable skills such as communication and cultural awareness, but how can universities translate these aspirations into meaningful, scalable learning experiences for students? AI personas offer possibilities

Kieran Williamson

University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

A woman uses a magnifying glass to check her phone

How to spot misinformation online

Find out two ways of approaching the identification of online misinformation – from an external perspective and an internal one. Stephanie Tsang shows how

Stephanie Jean Tsang

Hong Kong Baptist University

A student speaking to a teacher in a bright office decorated wiht plants

How interactive orals transform assessment – and how to implement them

Interactive orals shift testing from memorisation to meaningful dialogue, reducing anxiety and building confidence in diverse learners. Read how they increase inclusivity and how to implement them across disciplines

Popi Sotiriadou , Dani Logan-Fleming

Griffith University, Torrens University

A journalist interviews a man in a raincoat

It’s up to universities to embed climate literacy in the next generation of journalists

With the climate crisis intensifying, the media’s role in informing the public will be critical. Here’s how to equip journalism and media students with the tools to do so

Doug Specht, Anastasia Denisova, Morgan Lirette

University of Westminster

Lessons for academics in resilience, persistence and coping with failure

Rejection is part of every academic journey, but that doesn’t make it easier to bear. Drawing from personal experiences, Bhawana Shrestha reflects on how shifting mindsets, embracing support and practising ‘gentle ambition’ helped her build resilience

Bhawana Shrestha

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

AI, copyright and the classroom: what higher education needs to know

As artificial intelligence reshapes teaching and research, one legal principle remains at the heart of our work: copyright. Understanding its implications isn’t just about compliance – it’s about protecting academic integrity, intellectual property and the future of knowledge creation. Cayce Myers explains

Cayce Myers

Virginia Tech

Students gather on campus for the first time

Connect new students through the three Ts: teams, talking and Telegram

Find out how to help new students build connections with their peers and communicate with their professors, using these three tips

Kenneth Wai-Ting Leung

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

How to navigate the digital challenges of transnational education

As UK transnational education grows, universities must tackle the digital barriers facing global learners. Here are five practical strategies to help you deliver equitable, high-quality provision worldwide

Patrice Seuwou

University of Northampton

Faced with GenAI, educators’ engagement capacity matters more than ever

As universities prepare students for a future shaped by GenAI, the challenge is to use technology as a co-pilot while fostering skills that AI cannot replace: critical thinking, creativity and ethical reasoning

Thomas Menkhoff

Singapore Management University

Design thinking can transform first-year orientation

Design thinking offers a student-centred approach to orientation. By following these five steps, universities can strengthen first-year experiences and set them up for academic success

Jarell Alder

The University of the West Indies

Three strategies to get students back to the classroom

Students’ disengagement with in-person learning seems to be lingering far beyond the pandemic. Find out three ways to get them back to the classroom – physically, cognitively and emotionally

Henry T Y Fung

Hong Kong Baptist University

From salary to strategy: why universities must teach financial literacy

Universities teach communication, critical reasoning and research methods, so why not also provide basic financial skills to all students, regardless of discipline?

Manjari Sharma

Christ (Deemed to be University)

Six ways to welcome students to university life

Find out how to design meaningful welcome experiences for first-year students as they arrive at university, and equip them with the tools to start their academic journey

Aikerim Daurenbayeva , Aina Nurtanova, Aruzhan Yergali

Nazarbayev University

An unseen woman doing sums with a calculator

How university financial support teams can bolster student mental health

Universities must treat financial support as central to student well-being. By fostering open conversations and offering proactive, tailored guidance, institutions can ease financial stress, build resilience and improve the student experience

Ian Ashley

University of Chester

Close up on young woman looking at computer screen

The case for human-centred skills in higher education

For tomorrow’s challenges – and not just today’s jobs – students will need communication, critical thinking and interpersonal skills. So, faculty should look to embed these transferable skills across disciplines. Lauren Thomas explains

Lauren Thomas

Virginia Tech

A research team discussing their findings

Why universities must lead on honest AI disclosure and how a new tool can help

Universities must bridge the gap between calls for GenAI transparency and workable standards. A new taxonomy offers a practical system to declare AI’s role in research openly and responsibly

Multiple authors

Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University, Berdyansk State Pedagogical University

Group of Asian students looking at computer

Laying foundations: how to keep first-year students invested in their learning

The challenge for higher education foundation courses is to prepare students for university learning and build their confidence without overwhelming them with information. This guide explains how

Yeow Leong Lee

Singapore Management University

How to protect your university against authoritarianism

US institutions are facing threats to academic freedom from the Trump administration, yet they must also stay vigilant to authoritarianism from abroad. Here is what university leaders and academics can do

Sarah McLaughlin

Johns Hopkins University

Young entrepreneurs chat happily in a breakout space

How to position entrepreneurship as a graduate skill

Entrepreneurial thinking is at the top of employers’ wish lists – but how to integrate these skills in education?

Robert Crammond

University of the West of Scotland

Why PhDs are more carousel than rollercoaster

How to make the most of the opportunities that teaching, research and seminars bring to your PhD journey

Nicholas Maldarelli

The University of Edinburgh

Female intern with laptop working on mecatronics project

Industry engagement matters for doctoral candidates, too

Doctoral candidates have not generally prioritised engagement with industry, but its opportunities to enhance research impact and career prospects now make it essential. Here, Adnan Syed Muhammad offers tips for PhD students

Adnan Syed Muhammad

Western Sydney University

Does GenAI provide the opportunity for creativity to take centre stage?

With GenAI, routine skills are on tap – creativity should now be a core literacy. Ioannis Glinavos explores what that means for higher education

Ioannis Glinavos

University of Westminster

A scaffolded approach to teaching with GenAI

As GenAI continues to reshape higher education, this four-phase framework by Rena Beatrice Alcalay offers educators ways to guide students to use these tools critically and ethically, fostering agency, bias awareness and deeper engagement in philosophical writing assignments

Rena Beatrice Alcalay

Technical University of Munich

Hand holding mortar board, digital credentials

How industry partnerships and digital credentials can close the skills gap

Industry-focused credentials allow candidates to highlight skill sets to potential employers and enable individuals who may not have access to traditional higher educational pathways to display skills acquired over time. Here are examples of how these can work

Veronica M. Godshalk, Janelle Simmonds

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities, Siemens Digital Industries Software

Deciding between AI and human intelligence

Managing student risk AI-version

Could a safe space to experiment with using artificial intelligence to complete an assessment offer students a path to both deeper learning and AI proficiency?

Chris Jones

Regent’s University London

How to develop your own university library excellence standard

Instead of depending on a customer service assessment by an external agency to improve your library, why not develop your own? Find out 10 things to include in your bespoke standard

Steve Briggs, Carly Ramirez-Herelle

University of Bedfordshire

An academic’s guide to the art of negotiation: part two

How to understand your negotiation partner’s drivers, handle difficult situations and learn from each interaction

Natalie K. D. Seedan

The University of the West Indies

Multiracial group of university students

The transfer student advantage: soft skills in motion

Transfer students bring more than credits to their new institution; they come with resilience, self-advocacy and real-world experience. With soft skills more essential than ever, it’s time to see these learners not as behind the curve but ahead of the game

Lauren Thomas

Virginia Tech

Young black woman before panel during job interview

The challenge of building a diverse faculty in a world that has turned on diversity

In improving recruitment and retention of faculty from under-represented groups, universities can learn strategies from the corporate world – and let go of contentious remedies that do not work

Frank Dobbin, Alexandra Kalev

Harvard University, Tel Aviv University

A neurodivergent student participatin gin a class discussion

Stop placing the onus on neurodivergent students to ‘fit in’

How universal design for learning can address common challenges in making classrooms more inclusive for neurodivergent students

Ioanna Kapantai

The University of Exeter

How translanguaging can improve the learning experience and boost students’ confidence

Research into nursing education in Indonesia found using two or more languages in the learning environment allowed students to grasp technical concepts quickly and easily. Here’s how it worked

Erikson Saragjh

Universitas Sumatera Utara

Five ways to centre faculty development at your university

Teaching quality can be an institution’s biggest asset, improving student retention and boosting reputation. So why not move faculty development to the centre of institutional strategy?

Salah Al-Majeed, Hayat El Asri

Al Akhawayn University

An academic’s guide to the art of negotiation, part 1: how to prepare

The first in a two-part series explores how to use Marshall Rosenberg’s ‘non-violent communication’ framework to help you prepare for negotiations in the workplace

Natalie K. D. Seedan

The University of the West Indies

UC Earth Science Garden at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand

How a campus garden is tackling declining 3D spatial skills in geoscience students

Making geology more tangible can spark curiosity in the field and help students learn the skills needed to address global issues such as climate change, resource management and natural hazards. Kate Pedley walks through an interactive garden

Katherine Pedley

University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

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