Campus Talks: a Times Higher Education podcast

Hear academics and university leaders reflect on their professional journeys and address some of the biggest questions facing higher education today. Campus talks gets under the skin of the issues and individuals defining the future of teaching, research, EDI, digital transformation and sustainability in the academy.

Listen to Esther Papies, professor of social and cultural psychology at Radboud University, on how to nudge people towards greener choices on our latest podcast.

Campus Talks: How can universities nudge students and staff towards greener choices?

A behaviour change expert explains what is required to shift a whole campus community towards more environmentally sustainable habits

Esther Papies

Radboud University

Podcast graphic featuring Lisa Diamond of the University of Utah

Campus Talks: Why being a queer researcher ‘means speaking truth to power’

An LGBTQ+ scientist explains how funding cuts as a result of the US administration’s attacks on DEI-related research gave rise to a ‘gonzo science’ project and why data collection is its own form of resistance

Lisa Diamond, Eliza Compton

The University of Utah, Campus

Hans van Oostrom talks about building institution-wide AI expertise on the Campus Talks podcast

Campus Talks: What does ‘AI across the curriculum’ look like in practice?

We find out how one US institution has led the way in embedding AI across all its majors and what has been learned in the process

Hans van Oostrom, Miranda Prynne

University of Florida

David Boud shares insights on feedback, assessment and learning

Campus Talks: How to create university assessments that serve learning

Learn what constitutes good feedback and how to get students actively engaged in learning from their assessments

David Boud, Miranda Prynne

Deakin University

Katerina Standish is this week's Campus Talks guest

Campus Talks: Why it takes more than a PhD to become a good doctoral supervisor

An advocate for professional development of graduate supervision skills shares advice for new and seasoned research supervisors as well as what institutions can do to foster community and excellence

Katerina Standish, Eliza Compton

University of Northern British Columbia

Katherine Aquino speaks on the Campus Talks podcast

Campus Talks: Why small changes make a big difference to accessibility in higher education

Find out why individual actions hold the key to moving higher education institutions from compliance to success for disabled students

Katherine C. Aquino, Miranda Prynne

Rutgers University

Ashutosh Chilkoti speaks on the Campus Talks podcast

Campus Talks: Where research meets enterprise – lessons from a successful spin-out founder

Learn about the journey from academic researcher to entrepreneur and what it takes to launch a successful spin-out company, from a serial founder

Ashutosh Chilkoti, Miranda Prynne

Duke University

Campus Talks: How to maximise relationships between university academic and professional services staff

An expert educator embedded in teaching development explains what universities gain when they celebrate professional services expertise and provide clear, meaningful career pathways

Eleanor Hodgson , Eliza Compton

The University of Exeter

Raffaella Ocone is a professor of chemical engineering at Heriot-Watt University

Campus Talks: The career story of Raffaella Ocone, the first female professor of chemical engineering in Scotland

We hear how a woman from rural southern Italy became the first female professor of chemical engineering in Scotland – and what she’s working on now

Raffaella Ocone, Miranda Prynne

Heriot-Watt University

Podcast graphic featuring Laura Portwood-Stacer

Campus Talks: The essential skill of self-editing for academics

Are the argument, evidence, structure and style working in your scholarly book? Or are you stuck in a cycle of ‘directionless tinkering’? Find out why developmental editing is crucial to addressing big-picture issues and ensuring a manuscript connects with its target readership

Laura Portwood-Stacer, Eliza Compton

Manuscript Works

Campus Talks: What lies behind the success – or failure – of international branch campuses?

Find out what underpins success when setting up and developing a branch campus overseas and why financial returns are not a good motivation, from an academic who helped establish and later lead one such project

Christine Ennew, Miranda Prynne

Campus

Campus Talks: ‘Use your brain!’ And other pointers from a seasoned computer scientist on using AI in research

Hear a leading researcher in artificial intelligence discuss the potential of these digital tools for advancing knowledge and what effective and ethical AI use looks like

Karin Verspoor, Miranda Prynne

RMIT University

Campus Talks: How to turn vulnerability into a teaching superpower

Authenticity and connection are key to supporting students in the classroom. This means it is important for educators to develop the skills to show up as their whole selves but also understand how to protect their boundaries

Marissa Edwards, Eliza Compton

The University of Queensland

Campus Talks: The value of arts and humanities in higher education

A vice-chancellor-artist and a historian discuss the merits of the arts and humanities and what valuable life lessons and skills can be gained from the study of these disciplines

Michael Scott, Mark Power, Miranda Prynne

The University of Warwick, Liverpool John Moores University

Campus Talks: How to make co-creation work in your teaching

Find out why and how to collaborate with students to ‘co-create’ elements of their learning, from a leading expert on co-creation in higher education

Catherine Bovill

The University of Edinburgh

Campus Talks: The real-world power of soft skills

How do universities ensure their curricula meet the demands from industry, government and students for career-ready graduates equipped with vital transferable skills? Three experts explain how institutions are working to align higher education and skills development

David Bell, Dawn Bennett, Derek Harding

University of Sunderland, Independent consultant, Swinburne University of Technology

Campus Talks: Why teaching with artificial intelligence is ‘like a giant field experiment’

THE Award-winning educationalist Jenny Moffett talks about using AI so it supports learning rather than risks deskilling students, dealing with uncertainty in the classroom and the value of boredom

Jenny Moffett

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Campus Talks: The role of universities as bastions of free speech and open debate in polarised times

An expert in constructive dialogue and a free speech campaigner explain how universities can nurture productive disagreement and uphold the principles of free speech and academic freedom in the face of growing polarisation

Caroline Mehl, Abhishek Saha

Constructive Dialogue Institute, Queen Mary University of London

Campus Talks: The future of doctoral research funding for arts and humanities

An award-winning historian shares insights on changes to the PhD funding landscape in the UK and how early career scholars can maximise their chances of securing support

Alice Taylor

King’s College London

Campus Talks: How to unlock motivation and beat procrastination in your students and yourself

Two academic researchers and lecturers discuss the many factors that boost short- and long-term motivation and how to get yourself started when procrastination threatens

Ian Taylor, Helena Seli

Loughborough University, University of Southern California

Campus Talks: Why ‘grit’ and knowing when to say ‘no’ are vital skills in academia today

In this week’s podcast, two professors discuss the skills and characteristics needed to achieve long-term academic career success and fulfilment

Jeffrey McDonnell, Sarah Robinson

University of Saskatchewan, IÉSEG School of Management

Susan C. Aldridge, president of Thomas Jefferson University, speaks to Campus editor Miranda Prynne

Campus interview: Susan Aldridge, president of Thomas Jefferson University, on educating career-ready graduates

The leader of a US institution discusses how to set students up for future success in uncertain times and why working across disciplines is so powerful

Susan C. Aldridge

Thomas Jefferson University

Campus Talks: What today’s hyper-connected students need from their first weeks on campus

Students taking their first steps on to university campuses this month will arrive more informed – thanks to AI and social media – and more focused on career outcomes than previous intakes. So, how should universities tailor their welcome to set incoming cohorts up for success?

Rachel Gable

William & Mary

Campus Talks: Getting back to the basics of equity, diversity and inclusion in higher education

Two US experts in EDI discuss how universities can continue to support and advance equality of opportunity in the face of mounting challenges to ‘diversity’ work

Paulette Granberry Russell, Frank Dobbin

National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, Harvard University

Campus Talks: Are we facing a crisis in critical thinking in higher education?

Two academic experts in strategic decision-making and education discuss critical thinking, why it is under threat and what role it plays in preparing students for their digitally curated futures

Olivier Sibony, Tony Wagner

HEC Paris, Learning Policy Institute

Campus Talks: Using social media not as a tool but as a teacher in higher education

What can university educators learn about teaching and audience engagement from social media? Two experts – a psychologist and a professor of public relations – share strategies for connecting with students, finding wider audiences for niche research, and fighting misinformation

Peter Lovatt, Cayce Myers

Doctor Dance, Virginia Tech

Campus Talks: University libraries – and librarians – that are leading the change

Learn about the efforts of US librarians to protect valuable public data from sudden erasure by the Trump administration and a pioneering project which saw a UK university partner with a local council to create a joint library that is open to anyone

David Green, Lynda Kellam

University of Worcester, University of Pennsylvania

Campus Talks: What does it take to successfully commercialise research?

A technology transfer expert and biotech spin-out founder explain the steps involved in moving discoveries from the lab to the market

Mairi Gibbs, Andrew Hammond

University of Oxford, Imperial College London

Campus Talks: Actions that make a real difference in the fight against climate change

From global finance to the laboratory, hear about two very different ways by which universities can reduce their carbon emissions

Ellen Quigley, Jenna Lowe

University of Cambridge, University of Liverpool

Campus Talks: The complex factors that drive students’ sense of belonging

An expert in student belonging and engagement in the digital environment explains the nuances of belonging, mattering and inclusion as well as how to foster well-being in higher education

Karen Gravett

University of Surrey

Campus Talks: The secrets of effective policy engagement – from two academics who have worked in government

Two academics who are steeped in policy expertise, having worked in government in the UK and US, share practical insights on what works when trying to get research before the eyes of decision-makers

David R. Garcia, Michael Sanders

Arizona State University, King’s College London

Campus Talks: Why internationalisation must remain a cornerstone of higher education

Hear academic leaders in the UK and Singapore discuss what is needed for effective cross-border collaboration

Lily Kong, Manuel Barcia

Singapore Management University, University of Bath

Campus Talks: How to look after yourself in higher education

Personal insights from a range of higher education voices on how they preserve their own well-being

Multiple authors

Campus

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

Campus Talks: The tricky relationship between assessment and learning

Hear three US academic experts discuss what role assessment should play in higher education and how it can be improved

Susan D. Blum, Catherine Wehlburg, Josh Eyler

University of Notre Dame, Athens State University, University of Mississippi

Campus Talks: Why we need interdisciplinarity in teaching and research

Interdisciplinary thinking is crucial to addressing complex questions but how should it work in practice? Two leading academic proponents of cross-disciplinary working draw on their own groundbreaking scholarship to explain

Gabriele Bammer, Kate Crawford

Australian National University, USC Annenberg, Microsoft Research Lab (MSR) New York

Campus talks: the pros and cons of AI in higher education

How should universities manage the rapid uptake of artificial intelligence across all aspects of higher education? We talk to three experts about AI’s impact on teaching, governance and the environment

Shaolei Ren, José Antonio Bowen, Shushma Patel

University of California, Riverside, Bowen Innovation Group, De Montfort University

Campus Talks: A brighter future for academic publishing

Hear from two academics who are developing publishing solutions that encourage and underpin quality research practices and improve access to scholarly work

Paul Ayris, Philipp Koellinger

UCL, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Campus Talks: The benefits of citizen science and community-engaged research

Two leading academics explain why everyone benefits when researchers look beyond academia to seek greater understanding and new knowledge alongside the broader public or affected communities

Chris Lintott, Neeli Bendapudi

University of Oxford, Penn State University

Campus Talks: Social artist Helen Storey on working on the boundary of fashion and science

The UNHCR’s first designer-in-residence Helen Storey talks about why she has donated her creative archive to the University of the Arts London, and how the arts can help people connect with issues such as climate change and the refugee crisis

Helen Storey

University of the Arts London

Campus Talks: What Indigenous knowledge brings to higher education

Two Indigenous university leaders explain how their institutions support First Nations’ participation in higher education, create space for community and build trust in postcolonial environments

Angie Bruce, Te Kawehau Hoskins

University of Manitoba, The University of Auckland

Campus Talks: What makes an award-winning academic, university or project?

We speak to past THE Awards winners to find out about the work for which they and their institutions were recognised

Roderick Watkins, Mark Brown, Joanne Pledger, Ruth Spencer

Anglia Ruskin University, Royal Holloway, University of London, University of Central Lancashire

Campus Talks: Educating our way out of the climate crisis

Two academics share strategies for advancing climate action and boosting sustainability at an institutional and individual level

Liz Price , Tripp Shealy

Manchester Metropolitan University, Virginia Tech

Campus Talks: Two vice-chancellors on maintaining quality and financial stability within a university

Hear Anton Muscatelli of the University of Glasgow and Alex Zelinsky of the University of Newcastle, Australia, discuss the complexities of successfully running a university

Anton Muscatelli, Alex Zelinsky

University of Glasgow, The University of Newcastle, Australia

Campus Talks: How can universities ensure students are safe and supported?

A discussion of universities’ duty of care towards students, from tackling sexual misconduct to ensuring they feel supported in their studies

Rachel Fenton, Catherine Moran

The University of Exeter, University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

Campus Talks: Knowledge exchange and data management as drivers of research and innovation

The University of Oxford’s pro vice-chancellor for innovation on how universities and industry can work together for the benefit of all, plus a leading data scientist on why data needs careful handling to protect future research efforts

Chas Bountra, Sara de Freitas

University of Oxford, Birkbeck, University of London, The Open University

Campus Talks: Supporting student success at all stages of the university journey

University of Chester vice-chancellor Eunice Simmons talks about effective strategies for widening access and embedding equity in higher education

Eunice Simmons

University of Chester

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

Campus Talks: How technology is reshaping the 21st-century campus

When hybrid learning and immersive technology can connect and engage students working in any location, where does that leave all those lecture halls and libraries? We ask two US experts about how universities are adapting to the digital transformation

Stephen W. Harmon, Lev Gonick

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities, Arizona State University

Campus Talks: University success stories in managing AI and building digital capacity

Find out how two universities, in Hong Kong and the UK, are embracing generative AI and building institution-wide digital expertise

Julia Chen, Helen Cocks

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The University of Exeter

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