Professional insight from the University of Bristol

A Times Higher Education top 100 university founded in 1876, the University of Bristol is home to some of the world’s leading researchers. We combine teaching and research excellence with an independent, forward-thinking spirit.

University of Bristol

A woman researching at a desk in a library

How to get started with pedagogic research (and actually publish it)

Pedagogic research is increasingly central to teaching excellence in higher education, yet many academics are unsure how to begin. Discover how to shape your idea, secure funding, navigate ethics and find the right publication for your work

Rushana Khusainova, Marios Kremantzis, Christopher Pesterfield, Xiaoting Luo

The University of Bristol

An unseen person at a laptop typing

Virtual fellowships as ‘material solidarity’ against scholasticide, part 2

UK academics are exploring how virtual fellowships can offer practical, sustainable support to Palestinian scholars. Drawing on their pilot scheme, the authors share key lessons on turning statements of solidarity into action

Basma Hajir , Magdy S. Aqel, William W. McInerney

The University of Bristol, Islamic University of Gaza

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Interdisciplinarity in business sustainability education: how does it work in practice?

Practical lessons and tips to help you launch your own interdisciplinary sustainability initiative

Fatima Lopez Castellanos, Neha Chandarana

The University of Bristol

Students chatting in a green space

Ease student climate anxiety through nature and community

As climate anxiety grows among students, connecting with nature and building supportive communities nurture resilience, purpose and well-being, say Mireia Bes and Vivienne Kuh

Mireia Bes, Vivienne Kuh

The University of Bristol

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Virtual fellowships as ‘material solidarity’ against scholasticide, part 1

Gaza virtual research fellows and UK-based scholars share reflections, alongside a practical overview of the design, development and early implementation of a virtual fellowship

Ahmed Kamal Junina, Basma Hajir , Munawwar Najim, William W. McInerney

The University of Bristol, Al-Aqsa University, Islamic University of Gaza

A tombstone in a graveyard with the words "rest in peace" carved into it

Is the dissertation dead? If so, what are the alternatives?

Dissertation alternatives, such as capstone projects and applied group-based projects, could better prepare graduates for their future careers. Discover what these might look like

Rushana Khusainova, Sarah Sholl, Patrick Harte

The University of Bristol, Edinburgh Napier University

Corporate representatives shaking hands

Engagement isn’t a trade-off – it’s a path to stronger research

REF 2021 placed more emphasis on impact and engagement, meaning we must no longer rely on our research to speak for itself. Read how to engage with those beyond academia to ensure your work has a greater impact on society

Florian Bauer , Raffaello Rossi

The University of Bristol

An academic holding a pile of books in front of a library bookshelf

Arts and humanities scholars can engage with policy, too

Advice for arts and humanities academics who want to develop their impact profile while staying true to their roots

Charlotte Faucher

The University of Bristol

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Campus webinar: Prepare students with workplace skills of the future

Find out how to prepare students for jobs that don’t exist yet, with insight from experts at Campus+ institutions across the Middle East, Africa and Europe

Deborah Bartlett, Julio Gimenez, Rushana Khusainova, Abdelmoniem Sahal Elmardi

Al Akhawayn University, University of Westminster, The University of Bristol, Dubai Medical University

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Campus talks: how to achieve research excellence – and protect it

Learn what contributes to quality research across an institution and how that work should be kept secure

Marcus Munafò, Jacqueline Littlewood

The University of Bristol, University of Alberta

A jar with coins spilling uot of it

How to make extra money in academia

How to find and make the most of dissertation supervision, extra marking and public speaking opportunities to supplement your income

Rushana Khusainova, Edoardo Tozzi

The University of Bristol

A teacher standing next to a blackboard

Want to teach during your PhD? Here’s what you should know

How to prepare for your first teaching experience, manage your time and keep students engaged in class

Marios Kremantzis, Rushana Khusainova

The University of Bristol

A pair of legs following an arrow on asphalt

Using directional reflection to stimulate students’ evaluative thinking

Many students struggle to understand and engage with the concepts and practices associated with reflection. This is where directional reflection comes in

Simon Brownhill

The University of Bristol

A student painting on a canvas

Preparing students for careers in the creative industries

How interdisciplinary and experiential learning that is integrated into inclusive curricula can equip students for their future creative careers

Miaomiao Jia

The University of Bristol

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Campus webinar: The art of bringing creativity and fun into the classroom

Learn how to get creative with your teaching and inject a sense of fun into the classroom for better student outcomes, from experienced educators at Campus+ partner universities in the UK

Simon Brownhill, Gary Burnett, Kelly Edmunds

The University of Bristol, Loughborough University, The University of East Anglia

Group of students working on a modern urban architecture project with renewable green energy sources

How to embed sustainability into different curricula

A framework to support sustainability education that works within different courses, with discipline-specific examples

Chris Preist

The University of Bristol

Students working on a project together in class

Essential GenAI skills for marketing students

How students can use AI to generate promotional copy, conduct market research and identify biases, among other applications

Rushana Khusainova, Eleonora Pantano, Esther Kang

The University of Bristol

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Campus talks: what constitutes good teaching in higher education?

Two academics with experience in delivering and researching teaching in varied educational contexts discuss the complexities of effective instruction

Leon Tikly, Jason M. Lodge

The University of Bristol, The University of Queensland

Female researcher working on her laptop in a lab

Understanding ethics approval in academic research

The following strategies aim to streamline the ethics approval process, reduce delays and uphold the highest ethical standards

Marios Kremantzis, Fatema Zaghloul, Rushana Khusainova

The University of Bristol

Lecturer giving a talk

How to be visible as an academic

Working hard and taking on extra responsibilities isn't enough to guarantee career development these days. You also have to build your profile

Rushana Khusainova

The University of Bristol

Male speaker giving presentation at a university to a room full of students

Relieve student boredom by ‘activating’ lectures

How lecturers can ‘activate’ traditional lectures to relieve student boredom and stimulate learning

Simon Brownhill

The University of Bristol

EDI training

We must acknowledge our positionality to inclusively engage the community

The work that can lead to change involves building relationships and understanding, and developing and sharing knowledge in partnership with our communities. Put simply, community engagement must engage the community, writes Nilufar Ahmed

Nilufar Ahmed

The University of Bristol

Woman sitting at her laptop with her head in her hands

Playing the promotion game: how to navigate upshifting

Done well, upshifting helps you to gain experience and develop capabilities that support your career development and promotion prospects, write educators at the University of Bristol

Rushana Khusainova, Rachael Lamb, Nicki Newman

The University of Bristol

Female leader in an office smiling at the camera

Five leadership tips for women in higher education

The first woman of Indian heritage to head a Russell Group business school shares leadership insights for women in higher education, from mentorship and resilience to self-discovery and embracing your unique identity

Palie Smart

The University of Bristol

Father with his child at a laptop working

Four ways to achieve a better work-life balance in academia

Switching off can be a considerable challenge for those working in higher education, even though it is essential for a work-life balance and well-being

Rushana Khusainova

The University of Bristol

Female head of department speaking to her employees during a team meeting

I found my voice as a woman in academia; here’s how you can do the same

People want to know that you are competent. If you are not a capable pilot, no one is going to get on your plane, writes Veronica Hope Hailey

Veronica Hope Hailey

The University of Bristol

A group of policymakers discussing research

How to facilitate knowledge exchange and build trust with policymakers

Those seeking to create impact with their evidence should be ready to understand how public sector bodies make sense of the value of research, writes Julian Molina

Julian Molina

The University of Bristol

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Use students to facilitate impactful collaborations that benefit the community

Using students to connect third-sector organisations with people who can help them brings benefits to all involved. By Martin Parker

Martin Parker

The University of Bristol

Teacher giving a class to a room full of students

A framework for decolonising and diversifying science curricula

Actions you can take to make your science curriculum more inclusive and relevant to all students

Alice Robson , Bronwen Burton , Caroline McKinnon

The University of Bristol

Student support group

How can we encourage more prospective first-generation students to apply to university?

Reflecting on her experiences as a first-generation student and widening participation practitioner, Raeesah Ellis-Haque shares insight into how universities can ensure communications and outreach activities speak to prospective first-generation students

Raeesah Ellis-Haque

The University of Bristol

Maximise your research impact with these seven LinkedIn tips

LinkedIn works as a powerful tool for academics who want to share their research, yet self-promotion can be daunting. Here are seven tips to engage with other academics on the platform and define your brand

Rushana Khusainova, Hannah Robinson , Jacks Bennett

The University of Bristol

How to land the promotion

Hone the story of your career to make a case for promotion

Reflecting on achievements, considering broader impacts and shaping a narrative that resonates can help you craft a compelling career story that enhances your chances of promotion

Eleonora Pantano, Rachael Lamb

The University of Bristol

A male student sitting talking to an advisor

Student support: four ways to innovate for improvement

What fresh approaches could provide more proactive, tailored and cohesive student support? Andy Wistow shares insights from pilot schemes designed to do just that

Andy Wistow

The University of Bristol

A young female researcher working in the lab

How can PhD researchers be supported to complete an alternative format thesis?

How universities can best support PhD researchers who wish to produce alternative format theses, based on a review of institutional policies

Caitlin Robinson

The University of Bristol

A male lecturer talks to a class of students

The ‘third way’ academic: becoming an education-focused professor

Career development tips for higher education professionals who take an education-focused pathway

Rushana Khusainova, Wayne Holland, Sally Everett, David Boughey, Kathy Daniels

The University of Bristol, The University of Exeter, Aston University, King’s College London

A woman looking after her toddler

How to win at the part-time ‘game’ in academia

Higher education might be more accommodating of part-time employment than many private sector organisations, but working part-time comes with challenges. So how can you make a success of part-time working in academia?

Multiple authors

The University of Bristol, University of Bedfordshire, Bath Spa University, Women Space

A graphic of a colonial ship

Power and possibility: the role of universities in decolonisation

The question of decolonisation has grown in prominence in higher education in the past decade. Foluke Adebisi looks at why the concept is so often misinterpreted – and what is needed for universities to do it well

Foluke Adebisi

The University of Bristol

LGBTQ+ campaigners pose with the rainbow flag

Work ‘with’ not ‘on’: making social research more inclusive for LGBTQ+ people

How to develop inclusive social research practices that involve carrying out work ‘with’ LGBTQ+ participants, rather than ‘on’ them

Paul Willis

The University of Bristol

A reading through a book manuscript

How to pitch a book to an academic publisher

Key considerations for researchers when choosing an academic publisher and preparing their pitch

Victoria Pittman

The University of Bristol

A young woman exploring a forest

The four-day week in higher education: can we make it work?

With a culture of overwork eroding well-being among UK university staff, could a four-day working week be part of the solution? Rushana Khusainova looks at whether this mode of working is feasible in higher education

Rushana Khusainova

The University of Bristol

Crowd at a music gig

University brand communities: building reputation among different audiences

Universities are complex organisations with multiple audiences and stakeholders. How can fostering a strong brand community help their reputations to stand out from others?

Sotiris T. Lalaounis, William S. Harvey , Corinna Booth

The University of Bristol

A female lecturer addressing a class of students

Introduce coaching principles into your work in four easy steps

Coaching is a popular tool for personal and professional development. Rushana Khusainova discusses how it can be used in higher education

Rushana Khusainova

The University of Bristol

Steps towards open research in higher ed

Open research is a tough nut to crack. Here’s how we can get started

Investment, training and incentives are required if the sector is going to rise to the challenge of truly embracing open research

Marcus Munafò, Neil Jacobs

The University of Bristol, UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN)

A man building a machine on his desk

Home labs and simulations to spark curiosity and exploration

Francesco Fornetti explains how home lab kits and simulation tools can help spark curiosity and exploration among engineering students

Francesco Fornetti

The University of Bristol

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

Young women with Ukrainian flags

Eight ways UK academics can help students and researchers from Ukrainian universities

From joining a working group to mentoring and collaborating, UK scholars can support Ukrainian scientists and make a difference, no matter how small

Anna K. Bobak, Valentina Mosienko, Igor Potapov

University of Stirling, The University of Bristol, University of Liverpool

Image of a researcher examining a slide through a microscope

Don’t let the REF tail wag the academic dog

Institutions should resist the temptation to use the REF as a tool for competition and self-promotion and, instead, approach the results in ways that support sector-wide efforts to improve research culture

Marcus Munafò

The University of Bristol