Find the hero energy in the story of your researchWant to connect with funders, the media, the public or policymakers? Start by thinking like a storytellerErin O’DwyerGood Prose Studios, University of Sydney
Teaching your first course? Follow these stepsJust landed your first adjunct teaching role and don’t know where to start? Here’s how to make the most of your strengths, design a clear syllabus and deliver engaging, manageable sessionsDaniel Martínez, Robert SanfordIndependent academic
How to support students with dyslexia in your teachingStudents dealing with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties may struggle in the classroom more than their peers. With their number increasing, here’s how to give them the space they need to learnMaría Catalina Bolaños DubosUniversidad Austral
Run your lab more smoothly by centralising chemicals managementA simple change reduced our lab waste by a tenth. Find out how you can do it tooMohd Fatimie Irzaq KhamisUniversiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)
Bluetooth for better health: using tech to support student well-beingStudents can self-regulate their learning and improve their well-being by spending less time at their desks and more time moving – thanks to Bluetooth headsetsMichelle Civile, Julie Pepper The University of Exeter
Cultivating a responsible innovation mindset among future tech leaders The classroom is a perfect place to discuss the messy, real-world consequences of technological discoveries, writes Andreas Alexiou. Beyond ‘How?’, students should be asking ‘Should we…?’ and ‘What if…?’ questions around ethics and responsibilityAndreas AlexiouUniversity of Southampton
Use peer assessment to give students more accountability in group projectsStructured peer assessment can significantly improve student engagement and accountability in group work. Read about two methods that led film students to produce better-quality workQian ZhuangXi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Are we overlooking the power of autonomy when it comes to motivating students?Educators fear giving students too much choice in their learning will see them making the wrong decisions. But structuring choice without dictating the answers could be the way forwardDanny Oppenheimer Carnegie Mellon University
How can higher education better support international students with disabilities?Institutions need to work harder to understand international students with disabilities’ needs and challenges, and put in place more obvious and intentional communication with themCarol Evans, Maurie van den Heever, Ralph E. McKinneyUniversity of Salford, GoodX Software, Marshall University
Three strategies to build student belonging from the start of their academic journeyMany students struggle with the jump from school to university life. Here are three ways to help them hit the ground runningSiu Yau LeeHong Kong Baptist University
Tackling accent bias: the ‘last acceptable form of discrimination’Accent bias undermines Black international students’ confidence and belonging in UK universities. Institutions must tackle this exclusion through awareness, training, and a proactive celebration of linguistic diversityPatrice SeuwouUniversity of Northampton
How to put joy at the centre of the university library The role of the university library is poised for re-evaluation – not just as an academic hub but as a space where connection, belonging and access can come alive in everyday ways. Pro tip: cake and dogs help. Kayla McNabb explainsKayla McNabbVirginia Tech
Seven questions to ask when reforming academic skills servicesWith academic skills services facing a perfect storm of challenges, many are under review. Here’s how to make sure your students’ needs are being effectively met, through seven questionsSteve Briggs, Ralitsa KantchevaUniversity of Bedfordshire
‘Resilience isn’t innate – it is a skill that can be learned’Core aspects of university life – education, encouragement and experience – are key to cultivating belonging and resilience in students. Here, Paulin Straughan explains how a framework of programmes and activities brings them togetherPaulin StraughanSingapore Management University
Students as climate champions: a road map for universitiesUniversities must empower students to lead the fight against climate change. From green initiatives to student-led campaigns, here’s how to embed sustainability across all aspects of university lifeManjushree G NaikManipal Academy of Higher Education
How to collaborate on eco education – and how not toWhen embedding sustainability education into the curriculum, barriers to interdisciplinary collaboration can limit progress. So, what needs to change?Aideen Foley, Dale Mineshima-Lowe Birkbeck, University of London, Parami University
How I teach students to assess each other’s workPeer marking helps students build valuable skills and reflect on their own work. Here’s how to make the process smooth and effectiveAnirudha PoriaXi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Creating a visual story to demystify the university experienceVisual stories can help make universities’ complex array of services and experiences more accessible and less mysterious to staff, students and community membersBrooke Szücs, Ben Roden-CohenThe University of Queensland
How student-led research can build belonging and agency A project that hired students as co-researchers to explore inclusion and connection resulted in higher levels of agency and belonging. Here, the academics behind the scheme share what they learntJen Coleman, Vicki McDermott-ThompsonThe University of East Anglia
How inclusive design can transform student well-being: a spiritual perspectiveIntegrate the sacred into the secular by making interfaith spaces inclusive for all. Here’s howYusuf KaplanUniversity of Westminster
Creativity is buffering: why curiosity struggles in a world obsessed with certaintyCreative work demands exploration and uncertainty, but students today have been conditioned to expect fixed outcomes and instant answers. David Thompson explores how that mindset is stalling curiosity and what educators can do to restore itDavid ThompsonUniversity of Lincoln
How can we decarbonise knowledge production?An interdisciplinary approach that includes the institutions most affected by climate change is essential if higher education is to achieve net zero, argues Priya Vijaykumar PoojaryPriya Vijaykumar Poojary Manipal Academy of Higher Education
To foster belonging, make a cultural shiftHere’s how to hone your EDI practices and make your university an anti-discriminatory institution Denise ColesLoughborough University
The power of partnerships in preventing regional talent drainHow one university collaborated with another institution and local employers to address region-specific skills gaps and retain graduates locally – plus advice for others looking to do the sameHanna HopkinsonNottingham Trent University
Peer review as a collegial approach to educator development Expert support, structured reflection and near-peer dialogue can replace compliance and evaluation as a way to improve teaching practice. This practical framework aims to turn conversation into actionHasti Abbasi Deakin University
For an agile future workforce, embed a liberal arts education systemA liberal arts education can help foster the adaptability and critical thinking skills today’s employers are looking for. Here’s how to adapt the model to your regionAbderrahim AgnaouAl Akhawayn University
How a collaborative portfolio review can help faculties streamline their teaching offeringHow one school fostered cross-team collaboration to conduct a portfolio review and the lessons those involved learned along the wayTheresa Mercer , Multiple authorsCranfield University
How to overcome ‘forum fatigue’ with activities that students enjoyWhile online forums have been shown to boost learning and retention, if ‘forum fatigue’ sets in, students disengage. Here, Emilie Rutledge proposes a way to design activities that are most likely to elicit student participation Emilie RutledgeThe Open University
‘What I learned when students walked out of my AI class’Chris Hogg found the question of using AI to create art troubled his students deeply. Here’s how the moment led to deeper understanding for both student and educator Chris HoggRoyal Holloway, University of London
Reimagining connection and communication for Gen Z studentsGeneration Z students relate, communicate and build belonging in ways shaped by digital fluency, disrupted in-person learning and evolving social norms. This gives educators an opportunity to rethink how they teachGary F. Fisher, Dean FidoUniversity of Derby
Less is more when it comes to AI in teachingAs more educators adopt AI, the risk of becoming overwhelmed by the tools increases. Here are four practical strategies to prevent thisBin Feng, Garth ElzermanXi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Graduate apprenticeship students are facing a perfect mental health stormGraduate apprenticeships are booming, but the pressure of holding a full-time job while working towards a degree can take a toll on apprentices’ mental health. Here’s what universities and employers can doGary Gillon, Alan MacDonaldUniversity of the West of Scotland
What I needed as a Black woman in STEMFactors that influence the success of Black women in STEM, including community building, EDI responsibilities and invisible labour – and how to provide support Carlotta A. BerryRose-Hulman Institute of Technology
How to succeed as a green leaderSmall projects, broad buy-in, leadership-level commitment and consistent attention to energy, waste and water all add up to a more sustainable campus. Here’s how a UK university turned its climate awareness aroundAndrew Church, Toby MaloyUniversity of Bedfordshire
In the AI era, how do we battle cognitive laziness in students? With the latest AI technology now able to handle complex problem-solving processes, will students risk losing their own cognitive engagement? Metacognitive scaffolding could be the answer, writes Sean McMinnSean McMinnHong Kong University of Science and Technology
Extracurricular activities are powerful tools for building belongingEncourage students to get involved in societies, participate in sports and engage in formal extracurricular programmes to foster a sense of belonging within the student communityNatalie K. D. Seedan The University of the West Indies
It’s time to break the extraction mindset of higher educationA logic of scarcity and competition leads academia to see hoarding economic, human and social resources as the only way to survive – as a university or a higher education employee, writes Lucas LixinskiLucas LixinskiUNSW Sydney
Common barriers to belonging and how to overcome themBelonging in higher education goes beyond access – it’s about feeling seen, valued and supported. This resource explores the barriers that prevent true inclusion and offers ways to create a more welcoming academic cultureBhawana ShresthaXi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
How to choose the right industry partnersDeveloping long-term, successful industry partnerships starts by choosing the right one. Here’s how to do itAndy ColleyBirkbeck, University of London
‘Many academic librarians are now effectively digital curators’Through the advent of the internet, digitisation and artificial intelligence, libraries’ purpose in supporting their users’ success remains unchanged. So, how can academic libraries transform their services to meet evolving needs? Tyler WaltersVirginia Tech
A survival guide for academic department leadersAdministrators 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 legacySaleem H. AliUniversity of Delaware
Enhance students’ employability with career storytellingTeach your students how to articulate their career narrative and communicate their skills to potential employersLucy Gill-Simmen, Maria SimosiRoyal 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 HymanUCL
‘We need to be united, confident and proud of who we are’: thoughts on the Supreme Court rulingHow 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 differenceIan NormanThe University of East Anglia
From peanut butter to effective policy impactIn 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 SackleyAlistair SackleyUniversity of Southampton
Prepare your students for the job market: part twoIn 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-GarridoUniversity 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 QuinnNick QuinnUniversity of Glasgow
Why relationship building is key to policy influenceTo influence policy, researchers must go beyond data to build trust and relationships. Strategic networking makes the differenceO. Grace Ngullie Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Ask students what mental health support they needA student-led advisory board can help universities understand what services students will use and how they prefer to engage with supportRyan WongUniversity of Kent
