Using the power of debate to enhance critical thinking Asking students to analyse, defend and counterargue a contentious issue has proved an engaging way to teach reasoning and communication skills in organisational behaviour coursesM. C. ZhangMacau University of Science and Technology
What’s needed for stackable microcredentials towards a degree?Forest Tan describes how to begin creating a flexible pathway where learners can accumulate microcredentials aligned to industry that can stack towards a degreeForest TanSingapore Institute of Technology
Implementing project-based learning: a practical guideIbham Veza and Mohd Syaifuddin Mohd provide practical guidance and methodologies for introducing project-based learning and outline its potential impact on studentsIbham Veza, Mohd Syaifuddin Mohd Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)
How to coach in-employment lifelong learners for successA team from Singapore Institute of Technology offers insights from working with in-employment learners who are seeking to upskill by studying for degreesChow Peck Chee , Julian Matius , May LimSingapore Institute of Technology
Learning to learn: developing students into effective lifelong learnersKevinia Cheung outlines an institutional approach to developing undergraduates’ ability to ‘learn to learn’Kevinia CheungThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Campus talks: how to be a good mentor and mentee Contributors from across the globe offer their advice on how to make these critical relationships work for everyone involved Campus contributorsCampus
The art of bringing humour into the classroomA laugh or smile can lighten a lecture and make students more willing to speak up in class. Here are tips for using this nuanced, subjective tool in your teachingCheong FanMacau University of Science and Technology
Seven questions about storytelling in the classroom Ng Lee Keng explains why and how telling stories in class can transform student engagement and make your lessons more interestingNg Lee KengSingapore Institute of Technology
Brainstorming can breathe new life into your classesIn education, brainstorming has been regarded mostly as a classroom engagement tool, but it can be so much more than that, says Mattia MianiMattia MianiThe University of Nottingham Ningbo China
Teaching from the heart in 13 steps Engaging your students through empathy requires teachers to share their own stories and vulnerabilities and foster a safe space for learning. Here, Beiting He offers 13 ways to create a caring classroomBeiting HeMacau University of Science and Technology
How ‘service learning’ can improve outcomes for students, educators and local communities A guide to using service learning, in which students oversee projects in the community, to enhance theoretical classroom teachingTachagorn Chansema Siam University
Show students that the flipped classroom is much more than self-directed learningTan Bhing Leet provides three suggestions to help educators maximise the benefits of flipped classroomsTan Bhing Leet Singapore Institute of Technology
The benefits of leveraging student interest groupsKelly Lam shares how universities can work with student interest groups to add value to the university and aid student developmentKelly LamThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University
How to encourage students to engage in the broader university offeringGetting involved in campus life beyond the classroom brings multiple benefits for students, so how can universities encourage greater participation in the range of activities on offer? Irina ShcheglovaXi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
How to work with industry in mutually beneficial waysCollaboration through professional societies offers students real-world learning opportunities and universities a way to enhance graduate employability. Here’s how to do itAli ZwainAl-Mustaqbal University
As a researcher, you need a personal strategy…could business frameworks help?Business frameworks could help academic researchers to develop a personal strategy to guide their workDaniel MoraruShizuoka University
How to improve your well-being in higher educationGareth Morris considers the importance of well-being in HE and offers realistic suggestions on how this can be achieved by busy academics Gareth MorrisThe University of Nottingham Ningbo China
Making sustainability part of university DNAMeaningful change comes from embedding green practices into every aspect, and every member, of the institution, starting from induction training Thomas Menkhoff, Kevin Cheong Singapore Management University
Helping students transition to university lifeStarting university is a major milestone for new undergraduates. Teachers can offer encouragement, guidance and empathy to help students with practical and emotional challenges, writes Cheong FanCheong FanMacau University of Science and Technology
How can universities reduce stress for students during the application processSimple steps universities can take to make the applications process less stressful for aspiring studentsRosemary BaiChinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
The myriad advantages of using formative assessmentG.K. Suraishkumar looks at ways to assess students’ learning more effectively through formative assessments and argues for basing grades entirely on this methodG K Suraishkumar The Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Four directions for assessment redesign in the age of generative AIThe rise of generative AI has led universities to rethink how learning is quantified. Julia Chen offers four options for assessment redesign that can be applied across disciplinesJulia ChenThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Preparing students to succeed in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous worldUniversity campuses can act as an incubator, giving students a secure environment where they feel nurtured and cared for and where they can come to terms with who they are, writes Cheong FanCheong FanMacau University of Science and Technology
Useful techniques for remembering students’ names It’s important – and possible – to remember students’ names at university level, says Ng Lee KengNg Lee KengSingapore Institute of Technology
Questions to test students’ understanding of research methods How to craft questions for closed book examinations on undergraduate research methods Adrian Man-Ho LamThe University of Hong Kong
An introduction to the global classroom: benefits, challenges and value addedEric Tsui explains how to intensify internationalisation-at-home efforts, bringing many benefits to students and institutions alike, such as the sharing of transcultural knowledgeEric TsuiThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Exam skills instruction: fostering a sense of self-efficacyPractice, regular feedback and opportunities to experience mastery can help students develop sound exam technique and improve their performance, writes Cheong FanCheong FanMacau University of Science and Technology
Introducing microcredentials: a guide for educators and studentsMay Lim provides insight on how to design effective microcredentials that provide tangible benefits for students’ job function and career aspirationsMay LimSingapore Institute of Technology
How to enhance recruitment and retention at your universityGareth Morris and Junhua Mo outline ways to address the twin critical factors of motivation for new employment and boosting job satisfactionGareth Morris, Junhua Mo The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Soochow University
Struggle, strength and growth: preparing students for the changing futureHow to emotionally prepare students for uncertainty and complexity in their future lives by helping them recognise their strengths and embrace changeKathleen Chim, Lai Tsz Chui, Benjamin Tak Yuen ChanHong Kong Metropolitan University
A model for maximising the impact of small research unitsQingyan Chen explains how adopting a quasi-centralised management approach can help stimulate large-scale researchQingyan ChenThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Lots to unpack: tips for those considering visiting positions abroadHaving worked in numerous countries across different continents, Farish A. Noor gives advice on what to look out for when potentially moving overseasFarish A. Noor University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Tips for sharing research findings with diverse audiencesResearch impact depends on researchers’ ability to reach the right ears and present content in the right format. Here’s how to tailor your communication – whether for policymakers, peers or the general publicMohammed Al-Bahrani Al-Mustaqbal University
Spice up your lectures: engagement strategies for higher educationIbham Veza and Davannendran Chandran provide an exhaustive checklist of practical strategies for captivating students and retaining their attentionIbham Veza, Davannendran ChandranUniversiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)
How can we measure interdisciplinary learning?A benchmark of success for interdisciplinary learning is graduates who have the flexibility to examine their areas of interest and develop attributes that deliver practical value to future employers Elvin Lim , Daniel SeahSingapore Management University
Digital marketing as a route to reaching international studentsAdvice for university marcomms teams on shaping digital marketing efforts to reach and appeal to international studentsClaire Roper-BrowningHeriot-Watt University Dubai
A translation exercise to improve students’ creative writingLiterary translation and writing have a cyclical, reciprocal relationship, as novelist Maithreyi Karnoor explains with a task to tap into students’ feel for languageMaithreyi KarnoorSrishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology
Strategies to maximise the benefits of open researchSharing data, publishing preprints and making research outputs freely available all have tangible benefits for individual scientists and society. Here are tips to get started Tariq Al-MusawiAl-Mustaqbal University
Re-evaluating natural intelligence in the face of ChatGPTGenerative AI tools mean that our pedagogy, understanding of specialisation and how we value human abilities such as empathy, compassion and critical thinking must changeElvin Lim , Andrew KohSingapore Management University
Putting trust at the heart of higher educationVulnerability, uncertainty and mutual respect can help build trust between students and universities. The process can include small actions such as open conversations in class and whole-institution programmesSamson Tse , Carl HildebrandThe University of Hong Kong
Making the abstract concreteStrategies for writing effective abstracts for conference and research papersSteven Bateman, Yingchun LiXi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
How supervisors can use research competitions to inspire lifetime learningWhile some may think that entering student science competitions is all about the gold medals, the long-term nature of such projects is perfect fodder for learning meaningful skillsZheng Pai The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Top tips on providing useful feedback to studentsFrom showing appreciation for effort to using game-based learning effectively, Preeti Aghalayam outlines some options for making feedback work for your studentsPreeti Aghalayam The Indian Institute of Technology Madras
A holistic blueprint for sustainabilityInstead of compartmentalising decisions about infrastructure or resource allocation, universities need a whole-system approach to sustainability that shifts attitudes and behaviour, writes Lily KongLily KongSingapore Management University
Writing exam questions in a six-step processWriting exam questions is a meticulous, complex and creative part of teaching. The habit of using a standardised process will make this frequent task more manageable, writes Fiona Lifen LiuFiona Lifen LiuMacau University of Science and Technology
Active learning strategies to boost student engagement Practical advice on implementing active learning strategies in the classroom for enhanced learning outcomesIbham Veza, Vorathin Epin Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)
Why we start undergraduate transdisciplinary research from day oneHands-on knowledge discovery can give students the chance to put learning into action from the beginning of their studies, write Gray Kochhar-Lindgren and Julian TannerGray Kochhar-Lindgren, Julian TannerThe University of Hong Kong
How ChatGPT can help disrupt assessment overload Advances in AI are not necessarily the enemy – in fact, they should prompt long overdue consideration of assessment types and frequency, says David CarlessDavid CarlessThe University of Hong Kong
Failing your way to academic successFailure offers students and educators a chance to explore their shortcomings and come to greater self-awareness. In fact, it can be seen as growth in disguise, write Kelvin Yihang Zhang and Kim Yong JoongKelvin Yihang Zhang, Kim Yong JoongMacau University of Science and Technology
Tactics for leading and engaging students in research competitionsResearch competitions can motivate, encourage and inspire students, but we must align their expectations and encourage teamwork throughout the project Zheng Pai The Hong Kong Polytechnic University