Feature article

Students want feel heard, valued, seen and represented

It’s our duty to teach more inclusively − online, in person or hybrid

Students want to be seen, heard and valued, and there are many ways to include them while fostering equitable learning outcomes, says Flower Darby

Flower Darby

Northern Arizona University

Figure at the top of a ladder illustrating skills for career progression, online learning

Creating opportunities to enhance student employability online

Working online presents opportunities for students to develop their employability in the digital space. Ruth Donnelly lists how remote programmes can prepare them for the changing workplace

Ruth Donnelly

The University of Edinburgh

Online CPD is one pandemic innovation that should stay for universities and the higher education sector

Online CPD is one pandemic innovation worth fighting for

Let’s not waste this opportunity to make development broader and more inclusive using the lessons of the past 18 months, says Chris Headleand

Chris Headleand

University of Lincoln

Advice for universities on developing their lifelong learning strategies

Developing flexible lifelong learning in line with changing needs and opportunities 

Jonathan Michie shares insight to help institutions develop lifelong learning strategies that meet the need for flexible and relevant educational programmes

Jonathan Michie

University of Oxford

Advice on developing effective lifelong learning programmes

Covid as a catalyst: deepening lifelong learning

Miriam Green and Susanna Leong share key considerations for universities to develop effective lifelong learning programmes that will keep pace with the rapid changes across higher education

Miriam Jacqueline Green, Susanna HS Leong

National University of Singapore

Online learning in its current form is not good at engaging learners, or even at teaching them

The shift online could set digital learning back by years

The digital tools used during the pandemic may help address access and scale, but they do little to help students actually learn, says Tom Adams

Tom Adams

Quantic School of Business and Technology

Advice on delivering far reaching faculty development training in blended learning

A model for developing global expertise in blended learning

Daniella Bo Ya Hu outlines a framework for building expertise in blended learning using lessons in capacity development, staff incentivisation and leadership learned from an international pilot training programme

Daniella Bo Ya Hu

The Association of Commonwealth Universities

HE needs to follow tech companies’ lead and go ‘agile’

Universities need shorter cycles of learning and credentialing, such as eight-week academic terms and quick, stackable certificates, says Tom Monahan

Tom Monahan

DeVry University

Stalk of broccoli cut down, illustrating responsibility for staff well-being

Broccoli and birdsong: the shifty discourse of ‘staff well-being’

When institutions put responsibility for wellness onto individuals, they also deflect their role in staff burnout and mental ill health, writes Madeleine Davies

Madeleine Davies

University of Reading

How to use design methods such as scenario building to guide students in tackling real world challenges

Designing back from the future: building scenarios to engage students with global challenges

Anke Schwittay shows how design methods such as scenario building can help students think creatively about diverse challenges and imagine responses to them

Anke Schwittay

University of Sussex

Advice on creating a university research culture that is accessible, transparent and reproducible

Eight ways your university can make research culture more open

Parveen Yaqoob and Robert Darby share eight actions institutions can take to foster a culture of research that is more accessible, transparent and reproducible

Parveen Yaqoob, Robert Darby

University of Reading

The importance of a structured mentorship programme for ECRs cannot be overstated

How to ensure your mentorship programme isn’t one of the (many) bad ones

Structured mentorship programmes offer a non-judgemental setting in which to ask those pesky questions whose answers shape careers, says Lia Paola Zambetti

Lia Paola Zambetti

University of Sydney

Considerations for embedding public engagement into your research projects

Enhance your research through public engagement and collaboration

How can academics shape research around mutually beneficial public engagement and collaboration? Emily Burns outlines the key considerations

Emily Burns

Queen Mary University of London

Want to tear students from their phones? Learn their names

Holding students’ attention in a world of digital distractions is tough, but James Lang explains why remembering and using their names can make the task less herculean

James M. Lang

Assumption University

Advice on why and how to use podcasts to supplement your online teaching

Listen to this! Using podcasts for online learning

Emily O’Reilly explains why and how to use educational podcasts to supplement your online teaching

Emily O'Reilly

The University of Edinburgh

Displaced workers deserve more than short termism from universities

Displaced workers deserve more than short-termism from universities

Institutions must stop and think before helping reshape the career trajectories of millions of workers, says Gangaram Singh

Gangaram Singh

National University

Advice on where to start in decolonising your curriculum

Decolonising the curriculum – how do I get started?

Rowena Arshad provides pointers for any teaching academics considering how to get started on decolonising their curriculum

Rowena Arshad

The University of Edinburgh

University leaders must build trust and create community

Leaders: how to build community and trust during a crisis

Charles Egbu, vice-chancellor of Leeds Trinity University, reflects on five key lessons he learned while taking the helm during the pandemic

Charles Egbu

Leeds Trinity University

Advice on using popular social media platforms to support your university teaching and academic research

Fake news, educated views and how-tos: social media for teaching and research

Terese Bird shares her ideas on how to use some of the most popular social media platforms to support your teaching and research

Terese Bird

University of Leicester

International students generate billions of pounds for the British economy so the nation must act to preserve its reputation overseas

The UK must act now to preserve its reputation internationally

The figures show that the UK is slowly losing its appeal to overseas students, but what can be done about it? asks Vivienne Stern

Vivienne Stern

Universities UK International

Insight on how global trends will dictate the direction of innovation in transnational education

Innovative approaches to transnational education

Vangelis Tsiligiris outlines the key areas for innovation in the design and delivery of transnational education based on changing needs and developments in the global higher education landscape

Vangelis Tsiligiris

Advice on preparing international students for potential culture shock when they arrive at an overseas institution

Taking the shock out of culture shock: helping international students navigate transitions, part one

Inga Ackermann outlines what steps institutions can take to prepare international students for the potential culture shock they may experience on arrival at their new university

Inga Ackermann

The University of Edinburgh

Leaks and holes: beyond the pipeline versus process debate on diversity

A pipeline does exist in higher ed, but process and structural violence in education writ large keep puncturing the pipe, says Pardis Mahdavi

Pardis Mahdavi

Arizona State University

Advice on bringing international and intercultural dimensions into your curricula

Bringing international and intercultural dimensions into your programmes

Jeanine Gregersen-Hermans and Karen M. Lauridsen address how educators may create an internationalised learning experience for all students by including global and intercultural dimensions in curriculum design and delivery

Jeanine Gregersen-Hermans, Karen M. Lauridsen

Zuyd University, Aarhus University, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Advice on developing communities of practice to foster virtual collaboration between universities

How a community of practice can foster virtual collaboration

Eugene Schulz and Dagmar Willems share insights and takeaway lessons from creating a community of practice for higher education instructors to develop virtual exchanges with international partners

Eugene Schulz, Dagmar Willems

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

A mixed group of students of varying demographics. This is becoming the norm in HE and the sector must listen to and respect the challenges these students face

If we want non-traditional results, we need non-traditional approaches

We must listen to − and respect − the needs and aspirations of learners as they are, not as we wish them to be, say Gregory Fowler and Kate Smith

Gregory Fowler, Kate Smith

University of Maryland Global Campus, Rio Salado College

Advice on building global perspectives into your curricula to internationalise your teaching from home

Engaging with the world from your home classroom: tips for internationalising the curriculum

Tanja Reiffenrath shares advice on giving curricula an international dimension that helps students develop global perspectives

Tanja Reiffenrath

University of Göttingen

Advice on the key considerations for setting up a branch campus overseas

The dos and don’ts for setting up an international campus

Tobias Kliem offers insight on what to prioritise and what to avoid when setting up a branch campus overseas

Tobias Kliem

Arden University

Advice on setting up and running an effective virtual exchange programme

Top tips for developing an effective virtual exchange programme

Justine Seran and Randall Reinhard offer guidance on building a virtual exchange programme to provide flexible international learning opportunities for students who cannot travel abroad

Justine Seran, Randall Reinhard

The University of Edinburgh

University leaders must demonstrate an adaptive mindset and be aware they don't have all the answers

University leaders need to demonstrate an adaptive mindset

With huge change ahead, leaders must be brave and accept that the right decisions may not always deliver the best spreadsheet results, say Alasdair Blair and Sarah Jones

Alasdair Blair, Sarah Jones

De Montfort University

Advice on developing regular quizzes that test students' understanding so they can address any gaps in their knowledge

Designing ‘knowledge checker’ quizzes that motivate students to review feedback and revise learning

Jonathan Sim advises on designing regular quizzes as a tool to ensure students review their assignment feedback and address gaps in their understanding

Jonathan Sim

National University of Singapore

Advice on explaining to students why they should keep their cameras on during online classes

Stay in the frame: how to persuade students to keep cameras on in lessons

Paul Moss shares advice on how to convince students that making themselves visible during online classes is in their own interest and will aid learning outcomes

Paul Moss

Adelaide University

A lecturer speaks to university students, but what is the role of the lecture in modern HE?

What is the purpose of a university lecture?

We must continue to question the true role of the lecture and how lecture recordings fit in to the effective delivery of higher education, says Jill MacKay

Jill MacKay

The University of Edinburgh

Advice on what mental health support universities should put in place for international students

Mental health support for international students: five key steps

Frank Haber explains what support mechanisms universities must put in place to protect international students’ mental health

Frank Haber

Oldenburg University, Constructor University

Students need effective information, advice and guidance to make informed post-18 decisions

Targeted advice and guidance is crucial for widening participation

Especially post-Covid, pupils need a strong foundation that prepares them for future post-18 decisions

Billy Huband-Thompson

Centre for Education and Youth

Advice on providing comprehensive support for remote students through academic advising

Building a community of support for remote students through academic advising

Janet Morrison details academic advising strategies that keep students feeling connected and supported throughout their educational journeys when learning online

Janet Morrison

Champlain College Online

The word ‘play’ and a downward arrow in neon

Ready, player one? How video games can help engage students

Engaging, rewarding and a great way to encourage active participation, games are a brilliant addition to a teaching and learning environment, says Chris Headleand

Chris Headleand

University of Lincoln

Advice on running successful tutorials in transnational courses

Running effective tutorials in transnational education

Michael Daw explores the challenges and misconceptions related to running interactive tutorials in joint international courses, based on his experience teaching a UK-China programme in China

Michael Daw

The University of Edinburgh, Zhejiang University

Advice on fostering fruitful relationships between students from all over the world

Relationship building among globally diverse students in a borderless university

Monika Foster offers insights into why and how to encourage relationship-building between global learners by celebrating diversity and encouraging collaboration in teaching, learning and assessment

Monika Foster

University of Sunderland

Most students need a helping hand, but giving every student the same thing does not necessarily equate to good support

Do we need equity or equality to make things ‘fair’? Actually, we need both

Fair, to some people, means everyone getting the same thing. But that’s only fair if everyone begins at the same place and needs the same things to succeed, says Todd Zakrajsek

Todd Zakrajsek

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Advice on using lego to support active learning in lectures

Teaching with Lego: using plastic bricks to encourage play and interaction in class

Dan Swanton explains how using Lego to demonstrate and apply lessons in class promotes play and interaction leading to better engagement and peer discussion as part of active learning design

Dan Swanton

The University of Edinburgh

Advice on how to successfully use your research in your teaching to benefit students and enrich the research

How to refine, enrich and expand research through teaching practices

Adrian Lam offers tips on how academics can use their teaching to refine, enrich and expand their research methods

Adrian Man-Ho Lam

The University of Hong Kong

A magnifying glass among scattered letters represents problem solving

Follow the (learning) science and put problem solving at the centre of teaching

Rather than a digital transformation, universities should undergo a learning transformation that supports effective technology and evidence-based teaching, argue Carl Wieman and Bror Saxberg

Carl Wieman , Bror Saxberg

Stanford University

An overview of how cognitive load can be used to determine how challenging your learning content can be before it risks alienating students

How challenging can my content be?

Paul Moss explores the concept of cognitive load as a way to determine how challenging your learning content should be to remain effective

Paul Moss

Adelaide University

Early career researchers must master the art of saying no and not be too eager to please

Early career researchers can say no, too

Coming up with a series of questions for ECRs about each ‘opportunity’ as it arises can help them decide what is worthy of their time, says Lucas Lixinski

Lucas Lixinski

UNSW Sydney

Three benefits of moving final year assignments online

Virtual classroom connections: enhancing three presence elements via online tools

Nguyen Hoang Thuan and Pham Cong Hiep provide practical tips for enhancing three types of presence – teaching, social and cognitive – in online learning and teaching, based on their research

Nguyen Hoang Thuan, Pham Cong Hiep

RMIT University Vietnam

Advice on how institutions can support professional development among academic researchers

Developing research skills post-pandemic: creating space for reflection and conversation

Three research advisers share advice on how institutions should support researchers to develop their professional skills and confidence post-pandemic

Jennifer Boyle, Rachel Herries, Joanna Royle

University of Glasgow

Advice on selection ed-tech tools that will improve the students' learning experience rather than distract from teaching

How to assess if online tools will enhance learning experiences

Elizabeth Ellis offers five tips for assessing and selecting digital education tools that will improve rather than distract from your teaching

Elizabeth Ellis

Arden University

Advice on working with employers to develop courses that teach the skills needed in the workplace

Teaching the skills wanted by employers in 2021 and beyond

Dilshad Sheikh makes a case for universities to work more closely with employers to shape industry-relevant courses and expose students to more real-world practical training and assessment

Dilshad Sheikh

Arden University

Selection criteria in academia often creates invisible barriers for underrepresented groups

We must dismantle the invisible career barriers in HE

Despite surface appearances, universities’ recruitment and selection practices still present hidden obstacles to under-represented groups

Rebecca Jarrett

Cranfield University

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