Independent academic

Young man looking at laptop

To AI or not to AI? That is the question

Educators should embrace their role as advocates for higher education and the critical thinking skills it imparts, argues Sarah Birrell Ivory. Here, she shares a classroom exercise that compares the learning benefits of a written source with generative AI

Sarah Birrell Ivory

Independent academic

Young female university student meeting in all with older female supervisor

How an algorithm can lift dissertation supervision allocation above mere logistics

A data-driven method can turn the administrative chore of matching dissertation students with the right supervisor into an educational opportunity. Ana Santos explains how it works

Ana Santos

Independent academic

Researchers building a robotic arm

Why diversity literacy is a research skill

As funders demand more inclusive and internationally collaborative projects, researchers and research managers need the skills to turn good intentions into meaningful practice, says Jakob Feldtfos Christensen

Jakob Feldtfos Christensen

Independent academic

Woman writing in journal by window

How to reclaim your identity after academic job loss

When a university role ends abruptly, through redundancy, restructuring or a contract that isn’t renewed, the loss can feel like grief. Victoria Gibbon shares a structured journaling exercise that helped her rebuild a professional identity

Victoria E. Gibbon

Independent academic

A woman stands at the crossroads of two diverging paths

Two ways to think about your promotion and tenure file

How to build evidence of your academic career successes when the expectations keep changing? Here are two approaches

Kate Vacek

Independent academic

A female academic at her desk with her head in her hand

Start with men: universities must do more on menopause education

Universities have the research capacity, the educational mission and the moral obligation to lead on menopause education. It is time for men in academia to step up, drive the conversation and share the burden, writes Mark Butterick

Mark Butterick

Independent academic

A book with heart-shaped pages in front of a stacked bookcase

Has your relationship with your PhD lost its spark?

Make sure you and your PhD aren’t drifting into a toxic relationship. Here’s how to recapture the magic

Lucia Juarez

Independent academic

Digital accessibility

Why digital accessibility is now a leadership issue for universities

The question for university decision-makers is whether to settle for the minimum accessibility required by international regulation or to embed it as a marker of institutional excellence across teaching, research and civic mission

Ayala Gordon, Sarah Lewthwaite

Independent academic, University of Southampton

A library with a group of students having a discussion at a table

How to design learning experiences to heal division

How inclusive, collaborative learning can turn classrooms into trusting communities that leverage tension to promote learning and growth

Chiedza Mutsaka Skyum

Independent academic

Mature white male student doing online training

Does the Workforce Pell Grant Program offer a reprieve for US higher education?

Government funding for short-term courses could create more affordable, accessible pathways for students, and opportunities for universities to rethink how learning is structured and credentialed, writes Pardis Mahdavi

Pardis Mahdavi

Independent academic

Students and a teacher having a discussion in the classroom

Teaching your first course? Follow these steps

Just landed your first adjunct teaching role and don’t know where to start? Here’s how to make the most of your strengths, design a clear syllabus and deliver engaging, manageable sessions

Daniel Martínez, Robert Sanford

Independent academic

A burning book.

Protecting your work – and your values – in US higher education

With US higher education under attack from the federal government, what can scholars do to ensure their research is preserved and to stand up for academic freedom? Lisa Schiff, a co-author of the Declaration to Defend Research Against US Government Censorship, explains

Lisa Schiff

Independent academic

An academic disclosing their disability to their manager

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 that

Christina Dzineku, James Murray

Independent academic, University of Buckingham

Multiracial group of young people

Why inclusion in EAP needs a rethink

Teaching 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 belonging

Angelos Bakogiannis

Independent academic

Elements of innovation on a blackboard

Six actionable strategies to be a successful ambidextrous leader

Ambidextrous leadership requires not only strategic planning but also a deep understanding of the needs – current and future alike – of the research group, institution or organisation. Here are six aspects to consider in its implementation

Greta Faccio, Valentina Lorenzon

Independent consultant, Independent academic

Illustration of many juggling icons on unicyle

Should academics embrace ambidextrous leadership to future-proof their career?

Ambidexterity requires investing time in training that can provide the skills needed to operate in a dynamic environment but also in the future

Greta Faccio, Valentina Lorenzon

Independent consultant, Independent academic

Young student standign on a staircase in a library

Challenge strategic silencing to improve the experiences of global majority students

Universities have the power to create a more inclusive and empathetic world by promoting open dialogue, accountability and cultural diversity, write Christina Dzineku and Craig Mahoney

Christina Dzineku, Craig Mahoney

Independent academic, The Education Group

Young black woman rubs temples at laptop, frustration

Strategies for cultivating academic resilience

In a career that will make you question everything, challenge and failure are tools for moving forward, writes Andrew Stapleton. Here, he offers techniques to build resilience after setbacks

Andrew Stapleton

Independent academic

virtual mentoring

How mentor and mentee can help each other

Mentorship is a symbiotic relationship. Here, two scientists look at steps in the meeting process and benefits from both sides

Greta Faccio, Maria Koumouri

Independent academic, University of Cyprus

Person on a tightrope

Pathways to prosperity in casual academia

The journey from adjunct to permanent requires adaptability, foresight and self-awareness. Here, Andrew Stapleton offers tips – such as diversifying skills, strategic branding and mobility – to enhance an academic career

Andrew Stapleton

Independent academic

railway lit up at sunset

Illuminating the shadowy path to success in academia

Postdocs and early career researchers, do not believe the myths about the route to a stellar academic career, says Andrew Stapleton. Here are better directions to get you and your work noticed

Andrew Stapleton

Independent academic

fish jumping out of one bowl and into another, career change

How to find personal fulfilment after being a scientist

Academia encourages experimentation and innovative thinking. Why not apply these skills to finding a more satisfying job? Greta Faccio explains how she hit on her hybrid solution

Greta Faccio

Independent academic

University Challenge quiz show helps degree courses

Your starter for 10: how can a TV quiz format help courses avoid extinction?

With some courses struggling to recruit, John Warren explains how a University Challenge-style quiz can breathe new life into ailing degrees and empower the student voice

John Warren

Independent academic

Female researcher gazing up

Towards independence: blazing your trail as a freelance researcher

What options are open to you as a researcher if you decide formal academia within a university is not for you? Helen Ross outlines considerations and useful advice for anyone wishing to become an independent researcher

Helen Ross

Independent academic

Image of a book to illustrate ways to get published beyond academia

How to get a book published outside academia

Lexi Stadlen shares advice on how to turn your academic research into a commercially published book and reach audiences beyond academia

Lexi Stadlen

Independent academic

Podcast discussing building resilience and protecting well-being among university staff and students

Campus Talks: How to use social media to promote your work

Two scholars who have embraced social media platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, Twitch and podcasts to communicate their research explain how they got started and what works

Simon Clark, Christina Zdenek

Independent academic, The University of Queensland

Man at laptop with symbols of academia, how to write a successful book proposal

Six tips for writing a successful book proposal

An interesting concept is not enough to guarantee your book will get published. In crafting a pitch, it helps to be succinct and targeted and to show an ability to deliver

Simon Clark

Independent academic