How to become a deanPaul Baines talks through the pros and cons of being a dean, plus the skills you’ll need to display during the recruitment process to get therePaul BainesUniversity of Leicester
Hidden in plain sight: spotlighting invisible Black female academics Jummy Okoya outlines actions higher education institutions should take to encourage more Black women into academia and support their career progressionJummy OkoyaUniversity of East London
Slowing down earlier in the pandemic went well – so why speed back up?The online tools adopted in the past two years do have positives, but they’ve also created a new kind of pressure – the pressure to be everywhere at onceShari Boodts, Frederik van DamRadboud University
Six tips for writing a successful book proposalAn 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 ClarkIndependent academic
Constructive use of varied assessment methodsLayal Hakim explains when and how to implement different types of assessment throughout a course in order to support learningLayal HakimThe University of Exeter
Meritocracy in the academy isn’t fit for purpose – but we can fix itInstitutions need to think about who they’re picking and foster both literacy and competence around minority issues as the first steps to a true meritocracyrashné limki The University of Edinburgh
What is peer review and why it is important?Peer review is the lifeblood of good science. But understanding the process can take time, and gaining review experience can be daunting. Marc Gillett explains the key elements of this critical component of scienceMarc GillettIOP Publishing
Digital Universities Week UK task force: put people at the heart of digital transformation Ahead of Digital Universities Week UK, a task force of four university leaders in the UK gives advice on how to roll out digital transformation on campus – from staff buy-in to securing your networksCampus team, Imogen Brighty-PottsCampus
Video makes the coding star: teaching problem-solving in bite-sized chunks online Aidan McGowan explains how converting practical coding ‘labs’ into a series of short videos taking students through the problems step-by-step has improved learning outcomesAidan McGowanQueen’s University Belfast
What parents need to succeed in academia and how universities can helpFrom working hours that fit in with childcare to a place to pump, Nadia von Benzon explains how universities can support staff who are parentsNadia von BenzonLancaster University
International partnerships drive SDG progress – how do we support them? Diverse partnerships encompassing various sectors and organisations help mobilise resources and encourage collaboration that can address societal challenges more efficientlyJoanna Newman, Maddalaine Ansell The Association of Commonwealth Universities, British Council
Embedding gender equality: building momentum for changeEileen Drew explains how positive leadership, data-informed actions and priorities, mass engagement and collaboration all feed into a successful gender equality initiativeEileen DrewTrinity College Dublin
Fool’s gold: career advice for young, Black academics Freshly minted professor Jason Arday provides tips for aspiring Black and ethnic minority academics on how to safeguard themselves on the hazardous journey to the topJason ArdayUniversity of Glasgow
Pivoting university course offerings to upskill the workforce Teresa Ironside outlines how universities can develop their course portfolio to meet changing workplace skills demands and deliver education to a wider range of learnersTeresa IronsideThe University of Edinburgh
How do we get more women into coding? Fix how it’s taught and usedIt’s time women said to the tech industry: ‘It’s not me, it’s you.’ And universities can help by not confusing the art of computer programming with rather dull ‘careers in coding’Andy FarnellVisiting professor
Is the ‘sunk cost fallacy’ sinking your career?Making the decision to move away from research can be daunting, but a big dose of rational thinking can help you make the right choice, says Emma WilliamsEmma WilliamsEJW Solutions
Working with student activists to speed up progress towards a sustainable futureJaime Toney explains how working with grassroots student activists can help accelerate institutional action towards the Sustainable Development GoalsJaime ToneyUniversity of Glasgow
The case for using universal design for learning at your institutionUniversal design for learning can be the answer when searching for true equity in our universities. Jacqui Whittle and Caroline Pike outline the how and whyJacqui Whittle, Caroline PikeArden University
Easy as ABC: design an online course in 90 minutesWant to create an online course but not sure where to start? Lizzy Garner-Foy shares tips on how to create engaging online learning using a quick, easy method: ABC Learning DesignLizzy Garner-FoyThe University of Edinburgh
How to use social media more effectively in teaching and research, part one: your recording set-upAndy Miah shows how academics could set up their workspace to record good-quality video content for use on social mediaAndy MiahUniversity of Salford
How to start an academic YouTube channel: tips from a psychology YouTuberYouTube is a wide-open opportunity for university teachers and researchers to share their knowledge with a broader audience, says Dennis Relojo-HowellDennis Relojo-HowellThe University of Edinburgh
Widening access to postgraduate studies: from research to strategy to actionProviding equitable access into and through higher education is a constant battle, especially in postgraduate research, but barriers can be addressed when evidence is connected to action, as Diane Gill explains Diane GillThe University of Edinburgh
How to teach critical thinking to beginnersSarah Ivory explains how she teaches critical thinking through application rather than theory, tasking students with applying three core elements of the process in their regular classesSarah IvoryThe University of Edinburgh
How to create a sense of belonging for black students in a majority white academy Taking active, practical and nuanced approaches to ensuring the belonging of black students in majority white universities, at a micro and macro level, is everyone’s responsibility, explains Edith Lewis Edith LewisCanterbury Christ Church University
Building student social networks offlineBecky Lewis explains how to purposefully encourage and support students in forming social bonds and groups after two years of remote learning, isolated from their peers and lecturersBecky LewisThe University of East Anglia
How to work with Forage to implement virtual internshipsBen Powell provides tips and reflections on how universities can improve student employability using Forage, a free online platform offering a range of virtual internship programmes Ben PowellUniversity of Westminster
Top tips to improve the teaching of mathematics in universitiesLayal Hakim shares advice for improving higher education mathematics teaching, from preparation to delivery stylesLayal HakimThe University of Exeter
Are you optimising the user experience for your students?Kevin Curtis provides an introduction to simple user experience (UX) techniques that can help when considering how students and staff engage with higher education services and their campus surroundingsKevin CurtisThe University of Portsmouth
How to enhance students’ participation in teamwork that is not assessedRebecca Wang outlines a learning structure that supports students who are new to team-based research projectsRebecca WangUniversity of Westminster
Five tips for using design thinking to transform your academic practiceJenny Moffett explains how embracing design thinking may offer ways to combat academic perfectionism and develop vital skills for navigating uncertain pathsJenny MoffettRCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Start with why, part two: building a clear learning journey In the second part of his guide to curriculum development, Graeme Knowles explains how learning outcomes can be developed and then used to map the overall learning journeyGraeme KnowlesThe University of Warwick
The metaverse will change everything – including academic researchWe must push XR research boundaries if we’re to understand and shape our future reality – here’s how, says Neil McDonnellNeil McDonnell University of Glasgow
Bringing learning to life: nine tips for teaching in outdoor places and spacesDavid A. G. Clarke reflects on his experience of teaching in outdoor spaces and provides valuable tips on how to take higher education outside the classroomDavid A. G. ClarkeThe University of Edinburgh
Managing individual research productivity in academic organisations: seven key insights Advice on steps institutions can take to boost the productivity and impact of researchers, based on a study by Olga Ryazanova and Jolanta JaskieneOlga Ryazanova , Jolanta JaskieneMaynooth University , ISM University of Management and Economics
Core data science skills: filling the gaps with community developed workshopsThe scientific research apprenticeship model lacks training in core data science skills. Community-developed workshops delivered by academic peers can help to fill this gap, Alison Meynert and Edward Wallace explainAlison Meynert , Edward WallaceThe University of Edinburgh
Unmasking the scientist: breaking down anonymity to build relationships when teaching onlineSimple solutions to link students’ names to faces and build a rapport with individuals in your class when teaching online, by Kelly Edmunds and Bethan Gulliver Kelly Edmunds , Bethan GulliverThe University of East Anglia
New rules on lecture transcripts give academics an impossible choiceHigher education leaders must engage on new transcription requirements post-pandemic to ensure academics don’t have to choose between inclusion or increased workloadEmily Nordmann, Wilhelmiina Toivo , Rachel O’Neill University of Glasgow, The University of Edinburgh
Adult ADHD and higher education: improving the student experienceAlex Conner and James Brown explain why adult ADHD is linked to underachievement in higher education and what institutions can do to support better outcomes for those with the conditionAlex Conner, James BrownUniversity of Birmingham, Aston University
I ran the BBC World Service – it showed me how universities can be truly globalForget our universities’ Brit-centric approach – developing an authentically global experience needs to be at the core of higher education’s digital futurePeter HorrocksLearna
Online exams are growing in popularity: how can they be fair and robust?Nicholas Harmer and Alison Hill share advice on using unique datasets to deter student collusion in online examsNicholas Harmer, Alison HillThe University of Exeter
External engagement in academia: lessons from the business worldMany academics see external engagement as a chore. Others are just unable to appreciate industry perspectives. Both are stifling the contribution of universitiesKumud Wijayaratna , Ed CottamNorthumbria University
How to lay the groundwork for interdisciplinarity in studentsRecent events have shown the necessity of working together, and it’s never too early for universities, faculty and students to begin thinking about this, says Georgina HarrisGeorgina HarrisArden University
Match sustainability learning outcomes to specific curricula to achieve SDG 4.7Ron Johnston provides a guide to embedding education for sustainable development into university courses by linking it with the learning outcomes of the core subject being taughtRon JohnstonUNESCO
Campus talks: what does it mean to decolonise a library? Find out what is involved in decolonising a library from the editors of a book drawing together global perspectives on the subjectJess Crilly, Regina EverittUniversity of East London
We must rethink PhDs to smash barriers and ensure bioscience successRedesigning PhD training will help develop commercially savvy researchers, address skills gaps in UK bioscience and bolster innovation, say Simon Cook and Derek JonesSimon Cook, Derek JonesBabraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus
New norms in higher education that can help disabled students long-termCertain changes sparked by the reorganisation of higher education during the pandemic have benefitted disabled students and should be kept and developed in the long term. Sean Cullen outlines four key areas of positive changeSean CullenBrunel University London
Landing your first lectureship: top five academic career planning tipsUtsa Mukherjee shares five tips to help early career researchers build their professional experience and CV in order to secure their first permanent academic postUtsa MukherjeeBrunel University London
Academic snobs can’t afford to ignore LinkedIn any longerConsidering a career move? When asking for a favour, such as info or an introduction, it helps to build a chain of trust. Which is where LinkedIn comes in, says Emma WilliamsEmma WilliamsEJW Solutions
Start with why, part one: taking a new approach to curriculum developmentGraeme Knowles explains how his team have overturned the long-accepted curriculum development process to make the purpose of the programme and its learning outcomes the starting point rather than the end resultGraeme KnowlesThe University of Warwick
I took an alternative route to academic success – and I’m happier than everI ignored senior management and marketing departments and experimented with making my work more accessible and interesting – it paid off, says Jonathan WilsonJonathan WilsonRegent’s University London
