Counter-mapping as a pedagogical tool Engaging students with urban spaces can contextualise and deepen learning and bring in inclusive perspectives. Daniel Gutiérrez-Ujaque and Dharman Jeyasingham explain how counter-mapping can be used as a pedagogical toolDaniel Gutiérrez-Ujaque , Dharman Jeyasingham Brunel University London , The University of Manchester
What must leaders consider as they develop permanent remote work policies?Most agree that remote working is here to stay, so developing thoughtful and effective policy will be critical to ensure that students are served and institutions thriveJon McNaughtan, Catherine Whaley, Chelsea WallaceTexas Tech University
What I learned from nearly getting cancelledBeing the subject of student complaints was a very difficult experience for all involved – one that I am trying to learn fromAnonymousCampus
Why higher education must serve students as the customer and the productAn effective university programme should continually adapt in order to add value for and to the students so that they can meet future workplace demands, Haksin Chan and Roy Ying explainHaksin Chan, Roy YingThe Hang Seng University of Hong Kong
Universities must do better at bridging the gap between diversity and belongingLillian Nave outlines the three key interventions required for universities to help diverse students learn about, accept and participate in each other’s worlds Lillian NaveAppalachian State University
Six tips for implementing a careers chatbot ethically and effectivelyHelping students make good academic choices fuelled by their career aspirations before they start studying is crucial – and a well-designed chatbot can be very usefulCaroline Tolond, Deirdre Hughes, Chris PercyArden University, CiCi
Flipping the university admissions process on its headWhy should it always be students who seek out their ‘best fit’ campus? It’s time for universities to rethink how they manage traditional admissions – and boost enrolment and diversity as they go, says Joe MorrisonJoe MorrisonConcourse
Doctoral training programmes: worthwhile or not?If the chance to work with gifted people and across unfamiliar disciplines appeals, a doctoral training programme could be for you, whether you’re a student or an academicGraham HugganUniversity of Leeds
A little more conversation: using Elvis to teach critical theorySharing a critical reading of an American icon via film and critical theories builds an authentic learning space that can examine current cultural issuesStone MeredithColorado State University Global
Building emotional resilience is not creating a generation of ‘snowflakes’ Many students arrive at university adept at navigating challenging situations. Julia Downes explains how to leverage and add to these skills for positive and validating resultsJulia DownesThe Open University
How to ensure college admissions are equitable and accessibleAs a first-generation college student, Aimee Huffstetler knows how daunting the application process can be. Now working in enrolment, she shares advice on what higher education administrators can do to ensure more equitable and accessible admissionsAimee Huffstetler Gwynedd Mercy University
How campus layout influences social ties and research exchangeShorter distances between departments and offices can boost communication and exchange. But proximity is not the only way that campus design influences interactions among the university communityAndres SevtsukMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Digital exclusion hits students hardest at the start of their journeyVLEs, intranets, sports and social apps – the digital ecosystem at university is vast. We must induct students into it quickly and carefully to prevent them falling behindClaire SmithUniversity of Sussex
Student diaries as a tool to improve the university experienceDo you really know what your students experience during their studies? It is more complex than many surveys suggest. Using student diaries may support deeper understanding to improve student experiences, as Dan Herbert explainsDan HerbertUniversity of Birmingham
Breaking barriers for women: closing the gender health gap in academiaIn the final part of their ‘breaking barriers for women’ series, eight female academics propose ways to tackle the stigma and career deficits caused by women’s health issuesNicola Hemmings , Ellie Harrison , Jo L. Fothergill University of Sheffield, University of Liverpool
Tips for organising and optimising your inbox and messaging appsWe all suffer from communication overload in both our work and personal lives. Ingrid Benavides and Anahí Molina provide simple tips to make messages less overwhelmingIngrid Benavides , Gloria Anahí Molina Barrón Monterrey Institute of Technology
Bad news, kids (and academics): the magical motivation fairy doesn’t existMotivation for tricky tasks doesn’t just appear magically, but with these psychological tricks you can get yourself and your career moving, says Hugh KearnsHugh KearnsFlinders University
Course module design and structure for beginnersBuilding an online course from scratch can seem overwhelming. Here, Jamie Gilbert Mikell shares basic guidelines for beginners to create streamlined and user-friendly online modulesJamie Gilbert Mikell Athens State University
Coping with long Covid: 10 strategies for academicsLong Covid would hit anyone hard, no matter their job – but academia’s culture of high stress, high workloads and high expectations makes the impact greater still. Here, Kerstin Sailer offers advice for scholars living with the condition’s often debilitating symptomsKerstin SailerUCL
Ask for help: a survival guide for inexperienced academicsResearch and teaching are two sides of the knowledge coin: creation and dissemination. How do young scholars learn to balance these fundamental roles?M. C. Zhang, Aliana LeongMacau University of Science and Technology
How I train students in strategic and reflective academic reading Seven steps that guide students to become effective academic readers during their university studies, by Adrian Man Ho LamAdrian Man-Ho LamThe University of Hong Kong
As a black, female student, I wish I’d had a peer-mentoring schemeAsking more experienced students to volunteer to help first-years navigate their university journey can make all the difference in terms of belonging and confidenceBernadine IdowuUniversity of West London
For the common good: why we need ecological universitiesHigher education has become too aligned to specific economic interests and needs to be redirected to focus on regenerative values for the common good, argue Richard Hil, Kristen Lyons and Fern ThompsettRichard Hil, Kristen Lyons, Fern ThompsettGriffith University, Southern Cross University, The University of Queensland , Columbia University
Failure can feel hot and shameful, but we must normalise itFailure is essential in research, so we need to reframe it into an opportunity for learning, says Emma WilliamsEmma WilliamsEJW Solutions
Tame the to-do list and manage an academic workloadReduce procrastination, forget multitasking and get the to-do list done. From delegating to prioritising urgent versus important tasks, here are six practical ways to balance teaching, research and service for university faculty Kaihan Yang , Ben K. GohMacau University of Science and Technology
Meaning making: how universities can boost the uptake of edtech among facultyThe key to promoting the uptake of new edtech tools and teaching innovation among faculty, based on researchNa Li, Xiaojun Zhang, Maria Limniou Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
What does ‘strengthen research capacity’ actually mean, and how can we do it?Leaders of research consortia face a difficult task in carrying out research and improving research capacity, but embedding a specialist team to make recommendations provides great gainsImelda Bates , Justin Pulford , Lorelei Silvester Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)
Five steps to help adjunct professors prioritise competing workloadsTeaching at universities while also working in industry can require superhuman powers of organisation. Brooke Wilson offers pointers for staying on top of thingsBrooke WilsonColorado State University Global
University-edtech collaboration: how to leverage the best of both worldsSeven lessons for managing successful university-edtech collaborations that result in innovative new programmes, shared by Mònica CasabayóMònica CasabayóEsade
Considering a university merger? Here’s how to do it wellAssessing a merger’s viability, as well as prioritising trust, openness and maintaining organisational cultures are key to success, says Kayla VasilkoKayla VasilkoPurdue University Northwest
How data from digital learning tools can refine teachingDigital learning tools enable educators to quickly collect and analyse student performance data in order to refine their teaching, as Paul Moss explainsPaul MossThe University of Adelaide
Covid should have taught us that campus needs to be a treasured spaceIf we’re to tempt stay-away students back to the physical campus, we must recognise that place and places matter following disasters, say Gemma Ahearne and Treasa KearneyGemma Ahearne, Treasa KearneyUniversity of Liverpool
How to negotiate the politics of mark agreement between tutorsJames Derounian offers thoughts on how we can unravel the tangled and contested arena of mark negotiation between university tutorsJames DerounianUniversity of Bolton
Bringing in alumni as guest tutors to teach and inspire students Inviting alumni to contribute to a course can enrich the learning experience for current students. Ellie Devenish-Nelson and Sharron Ogle explain howEllie Devenish-Nelson , Sharron OgleThe University of Edinburgh
Zoom fatigue and other exhaustions of international academic lifeFor many scholars, a sustainable career means moving countries to follow jobs and opportunities. Here, Clare Griffin talks about the financial, mental and social costs of relocation and offers practical tips for coping Clare GriffinIndiana University Bloomington
The boundaries to set so your students don’t take over your lifeAs the role of university teacher evolves, a key workplace challenge is how to offer proximity without becoming a 24/7 bot serviceIngrid Benavides , Adela VegaMonterrey Institute of Technology
Dos and don’ts for dual teaching: support for lecturers in higher education Dual teaching, when lecturers host a class with students attending in person and via a screen, requires careful planning to work well. Miriam Firth shares dos and don’ts based on first-hand experienceMiriam FirthThe University of Manchester
Five tips for showing compassion towards and supporting new studentsThe step up from secondary to tertiary education can be daunting. Katherine Mansfield explains how to arm your students with the knowledge they need to succeedKatherine MansfieldUniversity of Westminster
Classroom management techniques you don’t get taught ‘Fake it till you make it’ is a useful motto for new university teachers facing a classroom of antsy students for the first time. Here are seven basic skills to master John WeldonVictoria University
From planning to delivering lessons: getting the basics rightNelly Ramirez Vásquez discusses the nuts and bolts of creating, teaching and overseeing high-quality lessons and courses for delivery online and in personNelly Ramirez Vásquez Monterrey Institute of Technology
The practicalities of delivering a multi-institutional online workshopLessons from planning and delivering a multi-institutional online workshop for university teachers designed to find solutions to common educational challengesKelly Edmunds , Richard BowaterThe University of East Anglia
Linguistic racism can take a high toll on international studentsEven seemingly innocuous comments on the way that students use dominant local languages can have severe effects on mental health, says Sender DovchinSender DovchinCurtin University
Experiential education through a simulated summit to combat human trafficking Advice on setting pedagogical goals and planning a simulated international summit to support experiential learning for remote students, by Clara Chapdelaine-Feliciati Clara Chapdelaine-Feliciati Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Why my hobbies make me a better scholarNon-academic skills, both motor and cognitive, can enrich research capabilities in unexpected and often unexamined ways, writes Stephen W. HarmonStephen W. HarmonGeorgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities
Blocks for building a stronger student communityBlock teaching can help rapidly establish bonds among students, and with their lecturers, which in turn maximises learning potential. Here, Sarah Jones offers insights from the 50-year history of block schedulingSarah JonesDe Montfort University
How professional practitioners help connect crime theory with real-world investigationsBringing professional practitioners into classes to share real-world case studies helps students contextualise learning and see how theories play out in reality. Paul McFarlane explains how this works on his crime science coursesPaul McFarlaneUCL
How we can use AI to power career-driven lifelong learningBy using data from job postings, course catalogues and students’ CVs, AI can help people address skill gaps and plot their educational journeysTeck-Hua Ho National University of Singapore
Do we need to grade students’ presentation skills?Presentation skills are considered essential by employers, but does this mean they should be graded at university? Marking can distract from the goal of improvement, and there are better ways to motivate students, says Axel WienekeAxel WienekeThe University of Queensland
Why higher education should take an EDI lesson from Kendrick LamarThe Pulitzer-winning rapper’s disdain for performative activism contains lessons for universities who espouse their good intentions rather than enact changeJT TorresQuinnipiac University
Student-staff partnerships: seven strategies for adopting inclusive practices Student-staff partnerships can support skills development and enrich courses, as well as offer life-changing professional and academic opportunities for diverse students. Here, Madelaine-Marie Judd and Brooke Szücs encourage others to embrace this ethosMadelaine-Marie Judd, Brooke SzücsThe University of Queensland