Feature article

A survival guide for academic department leaders

Administrators walk a line between support for faculty and accountability for performance, writes Saleem H. Ali. Here, he offers six tips for building good governance and legacy

Saleem H. Ali

University of Delaware

Enhance students’ employability with career storytelling

Teach your students how to articulate their career narrative and communicate their skills to potential employers

Lucy Gill-Simmen, Maria Simosi

Royal Holloway, University of London

‘Departmental orthodoxies silence dissent and chill scholarly enquiry’

Universities have not handled ongoing challenges around free speech, protest, academic freedom and safety well, writes John Hyman. Here he offers short- and long-term actions to promote secure, pluralistic campuses

John Hyman

UCL

‘We need to be united, confident and proud of who we are’: thoughts on the Supreme Court ruling

How can universities support gender-non-conforming members of their communities in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman?

Pippa Catterall

University of Westminster

Make social groups work for under-represented students

Collaborate with students to create social groups that foster connection among those with shared lived experiences. Above all, ensure these groups have a clear purpose and focus on inclusion, rather than emphasising difference

Ian Norman

The University of East Anglia

From peanut butter to effective policy impact

In a sector that often seems tasked with being everything to everyone, each university needs a policy strategy that focuses institutional expertise where it will make the most difference, writes Alistair Sackley

Alistair Sackley

University of Southampton

Two people interview a candidate, just out of shot

Prepare your students for the job market: part two

In the second part of this two-part series, find out how to coach your students to excel in interviews, from pre-meeting prep to a perfect thank you message

Julio Gimenez, Juan C. Palmer, Miguel F. Ruiz-Garrido

University of Westminster, Universitat Jaume I

Is the tick-box structure of promotion preventing true collaboration?

Academics can be so focused on the hoops they have to jump through on the path to success, they forgo opportunities for genuine collaboration. Perhaps it’s time for a shift in mindset, writes Nick Quinn

Nick Quinn

University of Glasgow

A group of research aprticipants waiting to be interviewed

Why relationship building is key to policy influence

To influence policy, researchers must go beyond data to build trust and relationships. Strategic networking makes the difference

O. Grace Ngullie

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Coco the Therapy dog in the Templeman Library on University of Kentcampus

Ask students what mental health support they need

A student-led advisory board can help universities understand what services students will use and how they prefer to engage with support

Ryan Wong

University of Kent

An illustration of a heart passing from one hand to another

Four ways to balance service and learning

Community-engaged pedagogies such as service learning are widely practised in universities, but how to achieve a lasting impact on both students and communities? Here are four strategies to do so

Grace Ngai, Rina Camus

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

A woman putting a shirt on a mannequin next to clothes rails

Use a professional student wardrobe to tackle waste and increase employability

A student-led clothing wardrobe scheme helps students step into professional roles while reducing textile waste. Here’s how to set one up to support both sustainability and student success

Debra Easter

Nottingham Trent University

Principles and practicalities of partnership working with students

For effective co-creation with students, university leaders need to move beyond surveys and get them involved in decision-making. The Russell Group institutions together set out best practice steps for doing this

Deborah Gill, Simon To

University of Southampton, UCL

A phone screen with several different GenAI apps displayed

Can we use GenAI to subvert the neoliberal university?

Generative AI can be a tool of resistance against the corporatisation of higher education – or it can be just another distraction to make us ‘zombies in the loop’ of the system. Here is how we can choose the former

Richard McInnes

University of Adelaide

Nurse entering information into computer

Supporting pathways for nurses into clinical research

Organisational support for clinician researchers is an effective way to ensure that healthcare research is translated into clinical practice. Here’s how a partnership between an Australian university and a local health service aims to amplify impact

Natasha Roberts

The University of Queensland

How combining VR with cultural identity can make interdisciplinary learning more impactful

A project that involved students designing human settlements on the Moon shows how combining cultural identity with VR technology can unite learners across disciplines and campuses to imagine and shape the future

Rubén Vázquez, Antonio Juárez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

From ‘filler’ to ‘fulfilling’: how to change students’ perceptions of a course

Ways to employ tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot to show students the real-world relevance of so-called filler courses

Elizabeth Marcial Morales

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A teacher guides students through an activity

Build empathy with your students – and grow as an academic

Find out simple ways to develop empathy in your interactions with students, and the effect it can have on your teaching as a whole

Oshan Uluşan

Near East University

When GenAI resets the assessment baseline

Generative AI is forcing university educators to raise their own bar on creativity, assessment and expectations. Here’s how one teacher reassessed their assignment

Chris Jones

Regent’s University London

How to build support systems for early-career academics

Practical strategies to build structural support, foster an inclusive culture and grow meaningful relationships that help early-career academics thrive

Estu Putri Wilujeng

The University of Indonesia

A woman holding a megaphone while protesting

Faculty must stand together to confront the American illiberal peril

What happens now that university presidents are willing to stand up individually and collectively in the face of governmental hostility? Chris Dietrich examines the historical context leading up to it and suggests some ways to resist

Chris Dietrich

Fordham University

Prepare your students for the job market: part one

How can you guide your students to make themselves stand out in a crowded field? In the first of a two-part series, discover six strategies to hone job applications to perfection

Julio Gimenez, Juan C. Palmer, Miguel F. Ruiz-Garrido

University of Westminster, Universitat Jaume I

Young female Asian university student in white coat

Using design-thinking to train the next generation of engineers

A ‘triple helix’ teaching approach shows how engineering educators can combine theoretical rigour with practical problem-solving to prepare students to innovate in the real world. Here, Chen Xiaodong explains how it evolved

Chen Xiaodong

Nanyang Technological University

Protecting your work – and your values – in US higher education

With US higher education under attack from the federal government, what can scholars do to ensure their research is preserved and to stand up for academic freedom? Lisa Schiff, a co-author of the Declaration to Defend Research Against US Government Censorship, explains

Lisa Schiff

Independent academic

An illustration of hands putting together a jigsaw puzzle

A step-by-step guide to developing a high-impact online course

Want to design an online course that your students engage with, that supports diverse learning styles and is seamless to navigate for both educator and student? Here’s how to structure the process

Michael Okrent , Susan Weese

Colorado State University Global

An academic disclosing their disability to their manager

Stop treating disability support as an afterthought

Find out what prevents university staff from disclosing invisible disabilities – and steps their institutions can take to change that

Christina Dzineku, James Murray

Independent academic, University of Buckingham

Three people looking at a page in a meeting

‘Explain your research as if you were speaking to a smart teenager’

For researchers to give their work a chance to have real-world impact, they need skills and tools to communicate effectively with politicians. Here, Kylie Ahern offers ways to make every engagement count

Kylie Ahern

STEM Matters

Ways to make your learning materials accessible and inclusive

Advice on laying the groundwork for inclusive teaching and using tools that help students with specific needs thrive

Eunice Costilla Cruz , Nelly Ramírez Vázquez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Make your university a home away from home

International students need a strong support system to settle them into their new environment. Find out how to provide one with these tips

Aray Saniyazova

Nazarbayev University

Using small-scale ChatGPT integration to introduce online students to GenAI

Integration of ChatGPT into online learning does not have to be a huge project. A small-scale, flexible writing task can address your students’ needs. But if they are working professionals, you should know their capacity for using technology

Jonathan Zaccarini

Columbia University

What on-the-job training looks like in the classroom for MBA students

Examples of authentic assessment methods for MBA students that align academic goals with dynamic real-world demands and equip students with job-ready skills

Harini K N

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Ubuntu philosophy: how embracing cultural heritage in the classroom can enhance teaching

Teaching that incorporates this African value system prioritises relationship building and authenticity. Here’s how to put it into practice

Chipo Simbi

University of Southampton

Seven tips to turn teaching practices into scholarship outputs

What are universities looking for when they ask for examples of scholarship outputs? Find out what could provide evidence of this work and how it can enhance your academic career

Steve Briggs, Julie Hulme

University of Bedfordshire, Nottingham Trent University

Navigating global uncertainty together: reframing our approach to control

In an ever-changing academic landscape, focusing on what we can – and can’t – control and influence helps us build resilience. Here, Imogen and Jay offer practical tips and strategies to help you feel more engaged

Imogen Varle, Jay Cotton

De Montfort University

Traditional ecological knowledge can inspire students to take climate action

Combining ancient wisdom with modern knowledge does not just broaden perspectives, it can also prompt climate action. Discover more benefits, and read advice on how to integrate traditional ecological knowledge into curricula

Daniel Yonto, Bin Feng

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

The path towards a tobacco-free campus

For the health of students and staff and the good of the planet, a tobacco-free campus is the only option for a modern university. Özen Aşut shares how the efforts of her students prompted real change in northern Cyprus

Özen Aşut

Near East University

Guard rails to mitigate ethical concerns for AI use

Artificial intelligence can vastly improve productivity and advance innovation, but integrating AI into academia brings significant ethical implications. These policies and procedures could help mitigate these concerns

Qin Zhu

Virginia Tech

Three images - one thumbs up, one down and one in the middle

How to encourage peer review in online courses

A framework and practical strategies to train students to provide constructive peer feedback that improves learning outcomes

Jie Zhang, Steven Bateman, Qing Ye

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

A student filling in a questionnaire at their laptop

Use weekly class surveys to support learning

How regular student surveys help you understand their needs, adapt your teaching content and encourage active classroom discussions

Adrian Man-Ho Lam

The University of Hong Kong

Why inclusion in EAP needs a rethink

Teaching English for academic purposes should be inclusive by its very nature. Here’s how to centre student voices, challenge assumptions about academic language, and design learning for meaningful participation and belonging

Angelos Bakogiannis

Independent academic

The importance of educational cultural awareness in the multicultural classroom

What happens when you mix contrasting worldviews and pedagogies in one university classroom? Find out how to balance students’ biases – and your own – to prepare them for a globalised world

Marie N Bernal

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Young woman surrounded by light bulbs, creative concept

‘Creative students need environments where risk feels possible, not paralysing’

Creative students are often encouraged to be bold and brave, but it’s hard when doubt, perfectionism and fear of judgement cloud their minds. David Thompson explores what educators can do to help them reconnect with curiosity and play

David Thompson

University of Lincoln

Three ways to spot someone struggling – and six ways to support them

Institutional policies can only go so far when it comes to mental health. Find out how to spot a student or colleague in crisis – and what you can do to help

Sumbal Riaz, Aqsa Khan, Soha Saifulla

Dubai Medical University

Female college professor helping male student

Only a human will do: when to eschew AI in teaching and research

Artificial intelligence tools have streamlined processes and accelerated innovations – efficiencies not lost on higher education. But at times, we need to prioritise human judgement and involvement, as Qin Zhu explains

Qin Zhu

Virginia Tech

An academic holding a pile of books in front of a library bookshelf

Arts and humanities scholars can engage with policy, too

Advice for arts and humanities academics who want to develop their impact profile while staying true to their roots

Charlotte Faucher

The University of Bristol

The power of short courses in transforming the workplace

What started out as a business research project into low productivity became a commercially successful short course. Perhaps it’s time to think outside the box and respond to what businesses need

Richard Saundry

University of Westminster

A lecturer at the front of class presenting to students

Student insight can shape the way we use GenAI in teaching

Students tend to be more comfortable with teachers using GenAI to support, rather than fully generate, learning materials. The key is to use it effectively and communicate your approach transparently

Svetoslav G. Georgiev, Joseph Tinsley

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Illustration of an elephant in a library

‘Using GenAI is easier than asking my supervisor for support’

Doctoral researchers are turning to generative AI to assist in their research. How are they using it, and how can supervisors and candidates have frank discussions about using it responsibly?

Ross English, Rebecca Nash, Heather Mackenzie

University of Southampton

A woman sits in a beanbag chair with a laptop

How to spark student start-ups

Universities are the ideal environment to turn ideas into businesses. Here’s how to encourage entrepreneurship and foster a start-up dynamic in your students

Robert Crammond, William Shepherd

University of the West of Scotland

Should we kill the essay?

Long-form writing seems to have become a battleground for the showdown between AI and academic integrity. With technology exposing the essay’s flaws, Luke Zaphir offers ways to reinforce this storied assessment task

Luke Zaphir

The University of Queensland

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