Feature article

Image of people learning from one another

Tactics to ensure students engage with and learn from feedback

Students often perceive feedback as criticism and fail to take on board the constructive guidance. Rebecca Lewis explains how she encourages student engagement with her feedback

Becky Lewis

The University of East Anglia

Digital Universities task force: upskilling the MENA region through online learning

Ahead of Digital Universities Week MENA, a task force of four higher education experts shared insights on how online learning could help meet the growing demand for key employability skills across the region

Miranda Prynne

Campus

Virtually friends: building bonds in a remote work environment

When Sandy Jones came into her first remote position in 2020, she made it her mission to develop closeness among members of her team – here’s what she did

Sandy Jones

Colorado State University Global

Advice for academics interested in working in the Netherlands

Ten tips for academics interested in relocating to work at a university in the Netherlands, by Tetyana Krupiy, who spent three years carrying out research in Tilburg

Tetyana (Tanya) Krupiy

Newcastle University

How to communicate the value of the arts and humanities to students

Classroom tips for debunking the arts and humanities employability myth

David Dodick offers practical pointers gleaned from a course he designed and taught aimed at communicating the value of arts and humanities degrees for various careers

David Dodick

University of California, Berkeley

Image of a new teacher celebrating the end of term

How to help students with widely varied prior education to thrive in first year

How can university educators ensure their first-year teaching caters to widely varying prior knowledge and skills among students? Bethan Gulliver explains a three-pronged approach

Bethan Gulliver

The University of East Anglia

The importance of promoting multilingual approaches in international universities

Introducing ‘translanguaging’ – and other ways to promote multilingualism

If universities are serious about internationalisation, they must confront the hegemony of English-medium instruction – here’s how, says Dylan Williams

Dylan Williams

Seoul National University

Early career researcher balancing the many demands of their working life

Design an early career researcher survey that spurs positive change

Guidance for crafting a university survey that encourages participation and leads to meaningful changes in policy, from a team of early career researchers at the University of Melbourne and Monash University

Trevor Steward, Hui-Fern Koay, Kelly Kirkland

University of Melbourne, Monash University

Image of the sky at night showing a galaxy and stars

Effective use of machine learning to empower your research

Artificial intelligence, or machine learning, can support complex analysis and advance quality research, but only when used carefully. John F. Wu shares advice on how machine learning can empower researchers

John F. Wu

Space Telescope Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University

In the loop: how formative feedback supports remote teaching

Weekly snapshots of how students see their own progress can help teachers adjust teaching methods in real time. An online tool piloted at Georgia Tech has helped fill a feedback loop lost during the pandemic

Jonna Lee , Meryem Yilmaz Soylu

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

Digital access is crucial and help is required for students to combat digital exclusion

We must remove technology worries from the student cost-of-living crisis

Students and parents cannot be left to make up the shortfall when it comes to financing their studies and tech needs – they need help from universities and government

Sarah Purdy, Steve Hall

The University of Bristol

Image of a male teacher hosting a university seminar

Switching career directions: lessons from the first year as a teaching academic

The first year in a teaching role is challenging, particularly following the disruption caused by the pandemic, yet rewarding. Janine Wilkinson shares what she has learned

Janine Wilkinson

The University of East Anglia

How to balance a teaching and research workload

Three key tips to help balance research and teaching duties

With ever-greater demands being placed on university faculty, Megumi Terui offers advice on balancing two key parts of the job

Megumi Terui

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Why getting a PhD is just like building a Lego duck

Why getting a PhD is like building a Lego duck

Ben Marder provides a fun exercise that can impart important wisdom to help lessen PhD students’ anxiety over their progress

Ben Marder

The University of Edinburgh

The fundamentals of successful student knowledge exchange

What basics must be considered in order to build a successful student knowledge exchange project? Sharon Ingram shares insight based on supporting a student-led chemistry consultancy

Sharon Ingram

University of Strathclyde

Universities have a critical role to play in the preservation of Indigenous languages and culture

Higher education has a crucial role to play in reaching out to Indigenous communities

Indigenous researcher Roselind Wan outlines strategies for universities hoping to champion Indigenous languages and inclusion

Roselind Wan

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

Socrates' methods can still help university student in the battle with misinformation

How Socrates can help your students question information

In a world full of answers, we must take time to ask questions, and the approaches favoured by Socrates can still be useful today, explains Konstantinos Arfanis

Konstantinos Arfanis

Arden University

Theatre icebreaker games for team-building in higher education

An introduction to using theatre icebreaker games games to break down barriers between students and promote teamwork and trust at the start of a course

Jóna Guðrún Jónsdóttir , Rannveig Björk Thorkelsdóttir

University of Iceland

Signposts for help, support, advice and guidance

Tips for new PhD supervisors: how to hold effective meetings

Supervisory meetings should be planned, regular and positive in tone. Here are key elements to include in thesis supervision meetings for academics new to the role

Alice Ling Jiang

Macau University of Science and Technology

Higher education needs to be rebuilt from the ground up to make it a fairer place to work for women

Breaking barriers for women: enough talking, time for action

In the second part of their ‘breaking barriers for women’ series, seven female academics outline key changes to help remodel a fairer HE system from the ground up

Ellie Harrison , Tiffany B. Taylor

University of Sheffield, University of Bath

Woman holding up her hands against someone or something

What does ‘taking sexual violence seriously’ look like at universities?

Rates of sexual violence in universities are the highest in society, ONS data show. So what actions must universities take if they are serious about tackling this pernicious problem?

Graham Towl

Durham University

Young Asian woman working at laptop in library wearing headphones

How to get through your first year of teaching

For any new teacher, standing in front of a class is daunting – professionally and emotionally. Here are some tips to help you prepare, adapt and conquer nerves and self-doubt

Beiting He

Macau University of Science and Technology

Being trauma-conscious in your class will help university students to thrive

How to help students thrive during pandemic times and beyond

Being overtly trauma-conscious and openly discussing current events provide a solid foundation for creating a compassionate classroom, says Ivania Delgado

Ivania Delgado

Florida International University

Woman walking past a field of yellow flowers

Walk the walk to benefit your academic research

Walking can be used to benefit academic research, help with problem-solving and promote creative thinking. Here, Anna Lois McKay explains the different ways it works

Anna Lois McKay

University of Leicester

Safeguarding conferences are becoming the land that change forgot

The lack of a firm steer from the universities regulator means a sector left in limbo when it comes to tackling sexual misconduct – and events covering the same issues year after year

Emma Bond, Andy Phippen

University of Suffolk, Bournemouth University

Targeted teaching: meeting students where they are

Teaching students according to their strengths and shortcomings, stimulating their interest in learning and building confidence in learning, is not only part of Chinese education philosophy, it promotes students’ all-round development

Xin Li

Macau University of Science and Technology

Two people looking through assessment feedback

The potential of artificial intelligence in assessment feedback

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve the way students receive assessment feedback. Elizabeth Ellis explores some of the ways in which AI can help students

Elizabeth Ellis

Arden University

Student voice initiatives in universities need to be rethought

You said, we did – now what? Why student voice initiatives need a rethink

‘Student voice’ initiatives tend towards changes that can be easily packaged and publicised rather than those that demand time, resources and deeper consideration

Claire Kinsella, Linda Kaye

Leeds Beckett University, Edge Hill University

How universities can ensure first-generation students and their families feel connected

How universities can ensure first-generation students and their families feel connected

A first-generation college student herself now working in enrolment, Aimee Huffstetler, shares insight into what administrators can do to ensure first-generation students and their families feel connected to their university

Aimee Huffstetler

Gwynedd Mercy University

Image of a lecturer teaching a class of adult students

Tutor training for architect-educators: twinning, observation, reflection and testing

Staff development and training for architecture tutors is very limited. This resource looks back at a tutor training programme that ran from 1996 to 2002, and draws lessons for future architect-educators

Martin W. Andrews, Mary Caddick

The University of Portsmouth

Too many universities are practically identical

Sea of sameness: why universities have trouble with branding

Universities need to better embrace commercial opportunities and stop trying to be all things to all people, says Paul Baines

Paul Baines

University of Leicester

Image of students being support to cross a gap in their learning

Planning forward: whole system support for marginalised learners in higher education

Steps towards taking a whole system approach to developing higher education that supports marginalised learners, thinking inclusively from the outset

Carrie Bauer, Cindy Bonfini-Hotlosz, Charley Wright

Arizona State University, Centreity

Collaborate or compete?

Working together turns out to drive positive factors such as communication, productivity, trust and creativity. Here’s how to foster collaboration among institutions, faculty and students

Kelvin Yihang Zhang, Ben K. Goh

Macau University of Science and Technology

Getting an academic teaching buddy can help you work out lots of classroom issues rather than struggling alone

Get yourself a teaching buddy to help you thrive

Rather than struggle through classroom-based problems alone, we should recruit meaningful support by seeking out a colleague to discuss our teaching, says Flower Darby

Flower Darby

University of Missouri

Academics need to get the balance right between working hard and being a good colleague

Why we should be humans first and academics second

James Derounian argues for the spirit of kindness in all we do – and provides tips to improve your everyday collegiality

James Derounian

University of Bolton

Image of a researcher conducting fieldwork

How to develop a code of conduct for ethical research fieldwork

A code of conduct for ethical research fieldwork developed by two researchers at the University of Oxford has been taken up by departments across the institution and beyond. The code authors, Catherine Fallon Grasham and Laura Picot, share lessons they learned along the way

Catherine Fallon Grasham, Laura Picot

University of Oxford

Why is collegiality crucial and how can we foster it?

Being an academic can be a solitary pursuit at times, but creating a supportive and enjoyable working environment helps staff do their best work, says Tobias Kliem

Tobias Kliem

Arden University

Merging library and IT services can bring great benefits to university life

Why universities should consider merging library and IT departments

Cultural differences and the need for excellent communication mean that such merging libraries and information technology departments is not easy, but the outcomes can provide tremendous value, says Ravi Ravishanker

Ravi Ravishanker

Wellesley College

A group of diverse and happy looking students

A checklist for making disability inclusion a reality in higher education

Actions that universities must take to promote equal access and opportunity for disabled students in higher education, based on a research-backed framework developed by Carol Evans and Xiaotong Zhu

Carol Evans, Xiaotong Zhu

Cardiff University, University of Southampton, University of Lincoln

Pedagogical wellness specialist: the role that connects teaching and well-being

Does faculty well-being affect student outcomes? Exploring this question in the wake of post-Covid burnout and trauma led UCI to create a new position that prioritises teacher wellness

Andrea Aebersold

University of California, Irvine

Everyone at universities need their collegiality stocks replenished post-Covid

We need our collegiality reserves replenished post-Covid – here’s how

While collegiality rests mostly with the people, institutions cannot just sit back and wait for it to spring on its own, says Lucas Lixinski

Lucas Lixinski

UNSW Sydney

Helping students see biology within a broader context

Should educators help students understand their chosen subjects within a broader context of learning? Mark Coleman has been experimenting with this in his biology course and shares his findings so far

Mark Coleman

The University of East Anglia

What can human behaviour analytics tell us about student learning?

Human behaviour analytics could be the answer to enhanced student engagement and better learning experiences in computer-aided learning environments

Fang Chen, Kun Yu

University of Technology Sydney

We may never stop university students cheating but we should still encourage academic integrity

Zero cheating is a pipe dream, but we still need to push academic integrity

David Rettinger and Erica Price Burns offer key points for institutions to consider when creating systems that encourage academic integrity among students

David Rettinger, Erica Price Burns

University of Mary Washington

Image of people of different ethnicities joining hands in a heart shape

What will your anti-racist university look like?

Universities continue to make bold commitments to stamp out racism and promote equity, diversity and inclusion, but what does it mean in practice to be an anti-racist university?

Arun Verma

University of Dundee

Image of the red curtains opening at the start of a theatre performance

What’s the story? Creative ways to communicate your research

Early in your academic research, you should ask how you can creatively communicate it to a wide audience. The results may surprise you, says Steven Beschloss

Steven Beschloss

Arizona State University

Bridges to study: how to create a successful online foundation course

Online access courses can enable more students who don’t come to higher education directly from high school to smoothly enter university. Here are tips for designing an effective online university foundation programme

Jane Habner , Pablo Munguia

Flinders University

Communities of practice are an excellent way for staff and faculty to share knowledge

Communities of practice: how to help them thrive

There are few better ways for staff to build and share knowledge within institutions, but while communities of practice can evolve organically, they also need nurturing

Melanie Brown

Adelaide University

Changing academic disciplines is not as impossible as it might sometimes appear

Embracing your impostor syndrome: advice for shifting between disciplines

Changing disciplines can appear impossible at times, but it’s not, especially if academics embrace the mindset that disciplinary boundaries are often somewhat artificial

Amber Phillips

University of the West of England Bristol

A STEAM adventure: running a hybrid English immersion camp

Lessons in designing a hybrid English immersion camp that boosts language proficiency while developing key life skills

Rossana Mántaras , Eugenia Balseiro, Lorena Calzoni

Technological University of Uruguay (UTEC)

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