Universities need to prepare for the mature student onslaughtHigher ed is notoriously bad at attracting and accommodating mature students. Given the workforce shifts spawned by the pandemic, this needs to change, says Dilshad SheikhDilshad SheikhArden University
How to be comfortable with uncomfortable conversationsRuth Woodfield outlines steps that academics, students and university staff can take to support and work through the discomfort of difficult discussionsRuth Woodfield University of St Andrews
Developing a growth mindset and experimenting for better teaching outcomesCatherine Seeds explains how a growth mindset and willingness to experiment should be embraced as powerful teaching toolsCatherine Seeds(SRUC) Scotland’s Rural College
How to develop partnerships that offer students real-world learning experiencesRhianedd Smith shares insight on how to collaboratively create real-world learning experiences for students with professional partnersRhianedd Smith University of Reading
Don’t believe the hype: being an ECR needn’t be a lonely existenceFinding ‘PhD pals’ in the same boat, but also learning to communicate your work effectively outside the research bubble, is crucial for ECRs, says Rebekah AckroydRebekah AckroydUniversity of Cumbria
Co-creation and empowerment: pathways to better student engagementEffective approaches universities can take to promote equity and improve student learning outcomes and employability, shared by a team from the University of SalfordSara Namvar, David Greensmith, Niroshini NirmalanUniversity of Salford
Can universities maintain their cultural identity in a blended world?A university’s identity cannot be neatly packaged. It changes over time and has different meanings to the diverse groups that make up that institution, says Nic BeechNic BeechMiddlesex University
Changing lives through community engagement and outreachJosephine Bleach outlines questions that higher education institutions should ask to help them foster authentic community engagement that improves educational outcomes for children, families and communitiesJosephine BleachNational College of Ireland
Fostering freedom in PhD students: how supervisors can shape accessible paths for doctoral researchClive Palmer looks at alternative approaches to PhDs that open postgraduate research to more candidates – for professional development, career change or just love of learningClive PalmerUniversity of Central Lancashire
Immersive tech in teaching and learning: first steps into the metaverse Virtual, augmented and mixed reality can provide powerful experiences for students, and it’s probably not as difficult as you think. Neil McDonnell provides simple, practical adviceNeil McDonnell University of Glasgow
Strangers in a strange land: how supervisors can support international research studentsRavinder Anand-Ivell explains how early investment of time and empathy can help international postgraduate research students adapt to a new environmentRavinder Anand-Ivell University of Nottingham
How to create an overnight scientific success (in 20 years)Inspirational moments don’t usually happen by chance. Instead, many enabling factors must be put in place over the course of a career, say Peter Hogg and Jo CresswellPeter Hogg, Jo CresswellUniversity of Salford
Creating a ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to Curriculum Design’Russell Crawford explains how to create a ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to Curriculum Design’ that pools all relevant information to support everyone involved in working towards positive student learning outcomesRussell CrawfordFalmouth University
Hosting industry professionals: embedding vocational skill-building into higher educationLiam Jarvis sets out three common pitfalls and three points of advice for facilitating productive encounters between students and industry professionals in higher educationLiam JarvisUniversity of Essex
Lessons from students on effective research supervisionRichard Godwin shares lessons in effective research supervision based on his former students’ feedbackRichard GodwinHarper Adams University
Four practical tips for bringing students and businesses together New approaches to student and employer “matchmaking” can help address graduate underemployment – and bring enjoyment for both sides, says Adele BrowneAdele BrowneDe Montfort University
Bullying by supervisors is alive and well – now is the time to tackle itThe arrangements that trap PhD students in toxic relationships with abusive supervisors must be reformed – here’s how, says Timothy IjoyemiTimothy IjoyemiUCL
Research supervision: working with the individual in front of youLorraine Hope explains how to mitigate student anxiety and avoid toxic competition with a person-centred approach to supervisionLorraine HopeThe University of Portsmouth
Talking about taboos: how to create an open atmosphere for discussing difficult subjectsLindsay Morgan offers practical, step-by-step advice for removing barriers to addressing uncomfortable topics such as consent and menstruationLindsay MorganEdinburgh Napier University
So you don’t think microaggressions have an impact?Microaggressions are often shrugged off by perpetrators because of a supposed lack of intent. But intent and impact are very different indeed, says rashné limkirashné limki The University of Edinburgh
Teaching visually impaired students – and making class materials more accessible for everyone at the same timeHannah Thompson, a partially blind academic, offers six tips for ensuring an inclusive learning environmentHannah ThompsonRoyal Holloway, University of London
Cybersecurity remains a critical issue that universities must faceStatistics show that universities are getting better at defending against and preparing for cyberattacks, but much more needs to be done, says Heidi Fraser-KraussHeidi Fraser-KraussJisc
Do EDI kitemarks help protect female researchers from online abuse?While they allow institutions to claim commitment to gender equality, kitemarks do little to challenge them on their actual policies, say Andy Phippen and Emma BondAndy Phippen, Emma BondBournemouth University, University of Suffolk
Taking the shock out of culture shock: helping international students navigate transitions, part twoInga Ackermann shares advice on helping students manage and overcome culture shock after their arrival at a university overseas or far from homeInga Ackermann The University of Edinburgh
In praise of the ‘watch party’ – an update to the flipped learning modelMany new students struggle with the amount of self-directed learning at university. Perhaps it’s time to introduce watch parties, say Emily Nordmann and Carolina Kuepper-TetzelEmily Nordmann, Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel University of Glasgow
Fostering collaboration in staff training through a top-down and bottom-up approachGustavo Espinoza-Ramos explains how pairing top-down and bottom-up approaches to staff development can promote collaborative learning among university staff at all levelsGustavo Espinoza Ramos University of Westminster
How to make campuses and courses more compassionateTelling students that you’ve considered their well-being in organisational culture and curriculum design can in itself bolster confidence, says Louise LawrenceLouise LawrenceThe University of Exeter
How to be a civic university: lessons in collaborating with local communities Deborah Bull outlines how institutions can make their civic duties a strategic priority, developing mutually beneficial partnerships with local communities and organisationsDeborah BullKing’s College London
Should we do away with hierarchy in higher education?I’ve found myself questioning whether a holacratic system, in which there are no managers or leaders, would work in universities, says Aspasia Eleni PaltoglouAspasia Eleni Paltoglou Manchester Metropolitan University
Returning to on-campus classrooms – are they fit for purpose?Gunter Saunders explains why classroom design must take technology into account in facilitating active, student-centred learningGunter SaundersUniversity of Westminster
Fear the zombie student apocalypse Andy Farnell argues that non-assessed courses could free universities, and the academic undead, from increasing spiritual depletion and a lifeless pursuit of certificatesAndy FarnellVisiting professor
How can we support innovation in teaching practices within universities? As the inaugural director of her university’s ‘education incubator’, Sarah Dyer shares insight on supporting teaching innovation among your faculty Sarah DyerThe University of Exeter
Researchers: fight back against your struggle with self-promotion Postdoc or professor, the self-promotion struggle is real. So, how can we promote ourselves without sounding too ‘sales-y’? Emma Williams has the answersEmma WilliamsEJW Solutions
Preparing students for an uncertain future through career planningLessons in engaging students in future career planning and preparation as part of their university studies, shared by Stephen Warrington, Katherine Cameron and Matt VickersStephen Warrington, Katherine Cameron , Matt Vickers The University of Edinburgh
It’s past time for a serious appraisal of mindfulness educationTrue mindfulness education goes beyond pedagogy and improving learning outcomes – it is a holistic approach for developing students and staff, says Christine RiversChristine RiversUniversity of Surrey
The dos and don’ts of creating a large-scale sustainability moduleRachel Lander, Sylvia Snijders and Gustavo Espinoza Ramos discuss lessons learned from creating a sustainability module that’s taken by 600-plus students per yearRachel Lander, Sylvia Snijders , Gustavo Espinoza Ramos University of Westminster
Three steps to designing online learning that supports a sustainable futureLizzy Garner-Foy offers practical guidance on how to plan, design and develop open, accessible online learning materials that support work towards the SDGsLizzy Garner-FoyThe University of Edinburgh
Students demand action on the climate crisis now – not laterCOP26 is the world’s best – and perhaps last – chance to get runaway climate change under control, and to reach net zero HE needs to act swiftly, says Manveer GillManveer GillClimate Commission for UK Higher and Further Education
Creating advice videos to help students and support your teachingNicholas Morton tackles five basic questions about creating advice videos designed to help students easily source guidance and information when they need itNicholas MortonNottingham Trent University
Fellow vice-chancellors, we must lead the charge on equalityIt’s incumbent on us all to ensure our universities offer inclusive and diverse settings in which anyone, regardless of their background, can flourish, says Craig MahoneyCraig MahoneyUniversity of the West of Scotland
Supporting student action on sustainabilityStudents want opportunities to develop skills and knowledge to address sustainability issues. Matthew Lawson describes how sustainability can be embedded into the student experienceMatthew LawsonThe University of Edinburgh
How thought leadership can build your institution’s reputation onlineWill Harvey explains how institutions can use research proactively to enhance the perception of their capabilities and characterWill HarveyThe University of Exeter
Prepare for student sustainability demands to go through the roofStudents will be the driving force behind universities finally being held accountable and made to practise what they preach on climate change, says Andreas KaplanAndreas KaplanESCP Business School
Competing hierarchies of oppression: why is race a lower priority?Gender is often given priority in HE because it’s seen as a universal concern that affects all women, but this ignores racism within gender equality work, says Kalwant BhopalKalwant BhopalUniversity of Birmingham
Don’t forget that international students need careers support tooJust 2 per cent of international students find jobs through UK universities’ careers services – a big failure given their economic input, says Alexis BrownAlexis BrownHigher Education Policy Institute
So you want a novel way to support untapped research talent?There’s great scope for the sector to offer research development opportunities to taught postgraduate students, says John McKendrickJohn McKendrickGlasgow Caledonian University
Using productive failure to activate deeper learning Manu Kapur explains how using a flipped-classroom approach, setting students problems that they are unable to tackle properly until they have been taught the associated concepts, deepens their learning through ‘productive failure’ Manu KapurETH Zurich
Engaging students in applied research to tackle Sustainable Development Goals Jen O’Brien describes a pedagogical project that engages students in applied research carried out in partnership with external organisations, related to the Sustainable Development Goals Jen O'BrienThe University of Manchester
UK universities have their heads in the sand on student addictionIsolation and shame pose big risks to recovery from addiction problems, yet on-campus support programmes are rare in the UK, say Suzi Gage and Shahroo IzadiSuzi Gage, Shahroo IzadiUniversity of Liverpool
Want to get on in research? You need to manage people effectivelyFrom supervisors to friends and family, the key to success is organising the people around you, says Ellie KingEllie KingThe University of Warwick