Why we should be humans first and academics secondJames Derounian argues for the spirit of kindness in all we do – and provides tips to improve your everyday collegialityJames DerounianUniversity of Bolton
Why is collegiality crucial and how can we foster it?Being an academic can be a solitary pursuit at times, but creating a supportive and enjoyable working environment helps staff do their best work, says Tobias KliemTobias Kliem Arden University
A checklist for making disability inclusion a reality in higher education Actions that universities must take to promote equal access and opportunity for disabled students in higher education, based on a research-backed framework developed by Carol Evans and Xiaotong ZhuCarol Evans, Xiaotong ZhuCardiff University, University of Southampton, University of Lincoln
Helping students see biology within a broader context Should educators help students understand their chosen subjects within a broader context of learning? Mark Coleman has been experimenting with this in his biology course and shares his findings so farMark ColemanThe University of East Anglia
What will your anti-racist university look like?Universities continue to make bold commitments to stamp out racism and promote equity, diversity and inclusion, but what does it mean in practice to be an anti-racist university?Arun VermaUniversity of Dundee
Embracing your impostor syndrome: advice for shifting between disciplinesChanging disciplines can appear impossible at times, but it’s not, especially if academics embrace the mindset that disciplinary boundaries are often somewhat artificialAmber PhillipsUniversity of the West of England Bristol
Five strategies to generate a sense of satisfaction in your academic workAcademia is challenging so developing coping mechanisms and boosting satisfaction in your work can be instrumental in building a successful career. Houry Melkonian shares five approaches she has found usefulHoury MelkonianThe University of Exeter
Supporting Ukrainian scholars: what’s next for #ScienceForUkraine?Academics and students from Ukraine at home and in exile need help. Here are ways to support the Ukrainian academic communityArran Reader , Anna K. BobakUniversity of Stirling
Threshold concepts: what they are and how they help students learnThreshold concepts are themes that underpin an academic discipline and can provide a framework for students to build knowledge. But teachers must be mindful of students’ capacity to understand them, as Becky Lewis explainsBecky LewisThe University of East Anglia
Podcast as pedagogy: discovering the joys of a new teaching formatAfter a first foray into podcasting as a mode of instruction, Alan Bradshaw shares some of the tips he picked up along the way for those considering taking the micAlan BradshawRoyal Holloway, University of London
Please follow the following: user guidance tasks as assessments Challenging students to create user guidance manuals relevant to their subject, explaining how something should be used or carried out, is an effective way to assess their applied knowledge, Russ Woodward and Nicola Pattinson explainRussell Woodward, Nicola PattinsonUniversity Centre, Grimsby: The TEC Partnership
How much should you publish?For reputation or promotion? Book or peer-reviewed journal? Publishing is a high-stakes issue for academics. Catherine Léglu looks at scholars’ motivations to publish, where and how oftenCatherine LégluUniversity of Luxembourg
How to address bias in the classroom and in assessment in five stepsBiases can affect personal interactions, course design, learning activities, assessment and institutional practices, thus it is vital that educators work to remove bias from their teaching. Donna Hurford and Andrew Read share helpful approachesDonna Hurford, Andrew ReadUniversity of Southern Denmark
Is it possible to decolonise the business curriculum?Untangling business studies from the discipline’s imperial origins might seem an insurmountable task, but it’s up to university leaders to take the lead on this complex challenge, reflects Bobby BanerjeeBobby BanerjeeCity, University of London
What determines the success of an international branch campus?What do successful international branch campuses have in common? Nigel Healey outlines the key characteristics that institutions wishing to extend their presence overseas should take heed ofNigel HealeyUniversity of Limerick
Curriculum design in biosciences: setting up first-year students for success Transferable skills and employability are more important than ever, and students arrive at university with a widening diversity of backgrounds. So, how should we prioritise what to teach in the first year of a biosciences degree? Audrey HepplestonThe University of East Anglia
In support of international students’ journey through higher education International students embark on a challenging personal and educational journey when they enrol overseas. Fiona S. Baker outlines support inside and outside the classroom that can help them succeedFiona S. BakerDurham University
What’s next for AI in higher education?From assessment to ethics and job security, a new Jisc report highlights AI’s challenges and successes and provides insight into upcoming developmentsMichael WebbJisc
THE podcast: what makes research and teaching interesting?Find out what universal tricks and traits can make things more interesting whether introducing a new concept in class or drafting a research paper for fellow academicsKurt Gray, Manuel Goyanes, Emily Corwin-RennerUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), University of Tübingen
Co-creation: how to find the ‘super’ in supervisionCo-creation can bring together research supervisors and doctoral students to unpick the tensions and challenges in the supervisory relationship and seek solutions, researchers from the University of Warwick explainElena Riva, Louise Gracia, Rebecca LimbThe University of Warwick
Inclusion of thought v inclusion of feelings: a showdownIn the pursuit of inclusivity, should we adjust what we teach to include students’ sensitivities or expose them to the full range of serious ideas? asks Arif AhmedArif AhmedUniversity of Cambridge
Don’t be cruel: how to write a fair peer review reportNot every comment in a peer review report will be positive, but it is possible to highlight weaknesses and errors in a journal article while being constructive. After all, behind every manuscript are authors who have ploughed time and effort into the submissionSin Wang Chong, Shannon MasonThe University of Edinburgh, Nagasaki University
Creative projects as a way of bringing students togetherAn institution-wide creative project is an opportunity for students to make friends and learn from one another, writes Karen Amanda Harris. Here, she shares tips for developing an extracurricular language-art project Karen Amanda HarrisUniversity of the Arts London
A step-by-step guide to implementing an agile curriculumFlexible, innovative and creative, agile curricula offer many advantages over traditional approaches – here’s how to get started, says Olufunke Aluko-DanielsOlufunke Aluko-DanielsUniversity of Huddersfield
Tips for new lecturers on the human elements that make students feel includedForget constructive alignment and instructional scaffolding, things like saying ‘hello’ and being encouraging are the real key to good, inclusive lectures, says Andy GraysonAndy GraysonNottingham Trent University
Block to the future: why block scheduling has taken so long to catch onBlock teaching has been around since the mid-noughties, but those short-lived early trials were ahead of the curve. Simon Thomson and Carl Flattery explore why block planning might finally be having its dayCarl Flattery, Simon ThomsonLeeds Beckett University, The University of Manchester
The promotion process needs bigger, better data if we’re to make it fairerEnough of the tiny sample sizes at institutional level – if we want to identify the issues that hold back careers, we need sector-wide figures and cooperationPatrick BaileyLondon South Bank University
ECRs can still evidence leadership and management skills on their CVsEven when you’ve ‘just’ been a postdoc, the key is correctly labelling your skills and experience so potential employers understand what you bring to the tableEmma WilliamsEJW Solutions
Next level? The pros and cons of game-based learningUsing gamification in the classroom can work wonders for engagement, but does it come at too great a cost to deep thinking, asks Frederik van DamFrederik van DamRadboud University
Go green, AI!Can artificial intelligence be as green as it is integral to solving complex problems? As universities integrate courses on AI into different fields, they also need to show students its risks and costs, particularly for the environmentInès Chihi, Inma PeralUniversity of Luxembourg
How to improve the public understanding of evidenceThe ability to critically analyse information and differentiate fact from fiction is a skill needed far beyond higher education. So how can academics trained in evaluating evidence engage the wider public in this important process?Rebecca DeweyUniversity of Nottingham, Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)
Great citations: how to avoid referencing questionable evidenceResearchers don’t always stick to careful citation practices and occasionally cite evidence that has been questioned or even retracted. Find practical tips on how to avoid citing faulty evidence and maintain good citation hygieneDmitry MalkovElsevier
How to support EDI work at departmental and institutional levelYaz Osho explains how universities can translate a stated commitment to EDI and anti-racist work into practical, operational deliveryYaz OshoUniversity of Westminster
Campus webinar: Decolonising the curriculumA panel of academics from Campus+ institutions in the UK and Australia discuss the what, why and how of decolonising the curriculumCampus teamCampus
Using tech (and a little empathy) to help anxious studentsAmber Phillips shares some high- and low-tech tips for supporting anxious students and improving inclusivity in the post-pandemic physical classroomAmber PhillipsUniversity of the West of England Bristol
How to improve digital accessibility at your institutionActions institutions can take to improve the digital accessibility of their websites and online materials and comply with relevant legislation, by Baba Sheba Baba ShebaSt George’s, University of London
The rise and rise of the lecture-tainerFalling class attendance and shorter student attention spans present challenges for university teachers. Sandi Mann offers advice for tackling the boredom conundrumSandi MannUniversity of Central Lancashire
The evolving meaning of ‘corresponding authorship’ in researchHow the role of the corresponding author is changing in terms of research team dynamics and the perception of its meaning, and the implications for assuming the roleRachel Herbert, Alison McIntoshElsevier, University of St Andrews
The role of peer mentoring in the design and development of online learningPeer mentoring is an effective way to support faculty in the development and delivery of quality online courses. Jonathan Muir explains when and how best to use it Jonathan MuirUniversity of Leeds
Peer review is frustrating and flawed – here’s how we can fix itWhat would peer review 2.0 look like? Mark Humphries offers ways to optimise the process for better efficiency and research outcomesMark HumphriesUniversity of Nottingham
Are you ready to publish? Top tips on how to prepare your manuscriptFrom explaining the publishing cycle to outlining what makes a strong manuscript, Jing Tang walks ECRs through key steps when preparing to publish for the first timeJing TangElsevier
Assessing science students’ practical skills – can we learn from healthcare education?Healthcare educators have developed effective ways to assess a range of practical skills in their learners. What can other science educators learn from their example?Derek ScottUniversity of Aberdeen
An invisible minority: what is needed to support students with caring responsibilitiesStudents with caring responsibilities in the UK have no joined-up support. Jessica Iyamu and Ellie Brown make a call for policies to provide consistent help across all universities for this overlooked groupJessica Iyamu, Ellie Brown University Campus North Lincolnshire (UCNL)
Foundations to lay when teaching computational and data skills Traditional teaching in data analysis focuses on statistics and visualisation but an emphasis on foundational data and computational skills is needed to prepare students to work with real data, explains Philip LeftwichPhilip Leftwich The University of East Anglia
How leaders can and must work together to address inequityLeading by example and striking the right balance between competition and collaboration are crucial points for those hoping to lead HE to a more equitable futureCharles EgbuLeeds Trinity University
Business schools must play their part in supporting those fleeing UkraineAs providers of education that sits at the interface of industry and academia, the onus is on business schools to step up during times of crisisMary Meaney , Celia Moore , Marina Moncayola Lobato Imperial College London
Decolonising your learning resources: representation mattersFind out what steps can be taken to review your learning resources from an anti-racism lens and why this is important for both ethnic minority and white studentsMusarrat Maisha Reza, Amy McEwan, Emily Calvo-HobbsThe University of Exeter
What can your university do to combat student loneliness?Five practical steps universities can take to reduce student loneliness and provide better mental health supportGeorgia WheadonUmii
Six steps to improve access to UK higher education for displaced studentsPeople who have fled war and persecution often face barriers to continuing their studies in the UK. Here are six ways universities can help to improve accessSiobhán CoskeranStudent Action for Refugees (STAR)
Getting the quiet students to talk helps everyoneOften the quiet students have the most insightful ideas but won’t share them for fear of speaking in public. Here are some tips on building their confidence and voiceDavid ChengAustralian National University
