Feature article

A robot hologram appears above a smartphone

Where to start with generative AI chatbot customisation

AI chatbots could transform teaching and learning, yet generic versions lack the detail needed for education. Here’s how to get started with building your own customised chatbot

Simon Wang

Hong Kong Baptist University

Older woman talking to young woman in a professional setting, mentoring

Are you ready to be an invested mentor?

The ‘invested mentor’ model takes mentorship beyond process and logistics. In this model, an effective relationship is based on connection rather than formalities with a mentor who prioritises their mentee’s success

Rebecca Taylor

University College Birmingham

A young woman referring to her notes while stufying at home on her laptop

Effective ways to keep online language students motivated

A learning designer discusses tried and tested strategies to keep students engaged in online language courses

Nigel Gearing

The University of Auckland

Equity without whiteness: what leaders get wrong in pursuit of an equitable campus

How can equity be advanced within a system that protects the status quo, and how can university leaders make a difference? Jordan Harper, Rozana Carducci and Adrianna Kezar examine how

Jordan Harper, Rozana Carducci, Adrianna Kezar

Morgan State University, Elon University, University of Southern California

The hand of Adam reaches towards a robot arm, with a buffering sign in between

Apply the principles of critical pedagogy to GenAI

Artificial intelligence can shape our educational practices – but when we allow this to happen unthinkingly, what do we risk losing? Here’s how to stay uncomfortable and ask the critical questions

Richard McInnes, Simon Nagy, Laura Airey

Adelaide University

A multiculutral group of staff having a group discussion

Tackling bias and microaggressions in higher education

Actionable strategies and insights to help higher education institutions attract and retain ethnic-minority staff

Pallavi Banerjee

The University of Exeter

How to enhance teaching skills in a multidisciplinary environment

Technical challenges as well as the personal demands that teachers face make support programmes at higher education institutions all the more important. Here’s how self-paced, modular training can boost teacher engagement and student satisfaction

Borbála Kozma

Semmelweis University

Key questions to help universities measure societal impact

When societal impact has so many definitions, how can higher education institutions measure it without overlap or disengagement? This coordinated approach aims to find accepted, effective common ground

Olga Ryazanova , Peter McNamara , Tatiana Andreeva

Maynooth University

A group of people work around an office table

Create healthy relationships between faculty members for the benefit of everyone

When staff members at an institution work together amicably, student performance improves, a collaborative environment forms and the academic community is made even stronger. Here’s how to do it

Rania Shalaby

Dubai Medical University

Young woman relaxing and using headphones to listen to a podcast in her living room

How to start a language-teaching podcast

Suggestions for teachers who want to create podcasts to supplement formal classroom learning, based on the experience of an English for academic purposes teacher

Chengchen Qian

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Couple in dual career concept illustration

What can universities do to support academic couples?

What elements can make a university stand out as being partner-friendly? Here are ways for institutions to support academics in dual-career partnerships – and boost their ability to attract and retain the best talent

Torin Monahan, Jill A. Fisher

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

AcademiaTok: how to inspire Generation Z with academic research

Explaining research in a short social media video is a major green flag for the Covid-19 generation. Here’s how to use existing resources to hit TikTok and Instagram

Lina Filippidi

The London School of Economics and Political Science

A Black student walking around campus with books in hand

Improving the digital experience for Black international students

Strategies UK institutions should take to enable Black international students’ smooth transition into university

Patrice Seuwou

University of Northampton

Students sitting on the stairs of a university campus building

Nine tips for a successful, accessible blended learning field trip

A guide to planning and implementing field trips that successfully integrate on-site and online students

Alette Willis, Alex Penland

The University of Edinburgh

Connecting adult learning principles, assessment and academic integrity

Adult learning principles and authentic assessment can offer ways for educators to not only prevent academic misconduct but also give students a chance to demonstrate skills that employers want to see in graduates

Carl Sherwood, John Raiti

The University of Queensland

A group of people brainstorm around an office table

Ten tips when building a centralised evaluation unit

How can we establish and develop evaluation activities to show what support and interventions affect the student experience, as well as their learning, outcomes and destinations?

Steve Briggs, Diana Pritchard, Sibel Kaya

University of Bedfordshire

How to make enterprise activities enjoyable and impactful

Incorporating knowledge exchange and enterprise activities into demanding academic schedules can be a challenge but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are ways to make it enjoyable, rewarding and impactful

Larisa Yarovaya , Jeni Giambona

University of Southampton

Students in class working on a project together

Events-based authentic assessment that can boost employability

While demonstrating knowledge through exams has its place, how often do we use exam techniques and skills in our daily lives? Events offer a more authentic way to demonstrate and test professional skills

Becky Lewis, Colin McClure

The University of East Anglia, Queen’s University Belfast

Business students discussing a case study in class

Eight fail-safe ways to build business students’ problem-solving skills

The volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) nature of business environments prompt employers to look for creative and agile graduates

Manju Meenakshy

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Community of practice concept illustration

A framework to develop communities of practice

Supporting communities of practice across an organisation can provide extraordinary benefits. Drawn from the author’s experience, these tips aim to build connection and engagement through a formalised framework and senior leader sponsorship

Karen Mather

University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

Members of Gen Z work in an office lounge

Universities need to act now to bridge the Gen Z gap

Many educators are still struggling to harness the talents of Generation Z and help set them up for employment. Just a few key business changes can make the connection, writes Salah Al-Majeed

Salah Al-Majeed

Al Akhawayn University

Blocks joined with string networking concept

How a strong network can enhance the PhD journey

Connections and collaborations can help PhD students (and their supervisors) cut through the isolation of research. Here’s how to leverage those links into employability

Meghan Casey , Andrew Barton , Madhu Chetty , Rose Ferguson

Federation University Australia , Australian Catholic University

Universities need to remember the true value of education

The sector’s focus on cost-effectiveness is overshadowing educational opportunities. Samar Abdelazim Ahmed argues for a redefinition of success

Samar Abdelazim Ahmed

Dubai Medical University

A business student taking optional courses to enhance her employability

Optional extracurricular modules can enhance business students’ employability

This resource offers guidance on how to design and promote extracurricular courses that you can offer alongside academic ones to boost employability

Yue Jiang, Nimesh Salike, Eddy Fang

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Colourful paper explodes from one wooden head, black paper from the other

Let’s kindle the fire for discovery in our students

In his new book ‘Mindset Matters: The Power of College to Activate Lifelong Growth’, Daniel R Porterfield explores how to spark a heat-seeking search for knowledge among undergraduates

Daniel R. Porterfield

Aspen Institute

Buisiness woman using a tablet at her desk

Using knowledge graphs to integrate social media into curricula

Knowledge graph-based tools can support group learning online and help educators bring useful links with social media into their courses

Fouad Zablith

American University of Beirut

Embracing disagreement in research co-production

Co-producing a research project is not all consensus and harmony, so these four tips will guide research collaborators in how to allow and enable disagreements and dissenting voices

Gary Hickey

University of Southampton

Young black male university student with a backpack

A sustainable strategy for educating the next generation of African youth

Young women and men from African countries will soon comprise the most significant group of globally mobile students. What if universities met them with a sustainable, positive vision for their communities and the host institutions? Here are practical strategies and resources

Melissa Aberle-Grasse

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

A lecturer speaking to a student at their desk

Managing empathy fatigue as a teacher

While not technically in the job description, academic professionals support students with recognising and working through their mental health issues. Kshamta Sharma shares techniques to help these staff protect themselves from second hand stress

Kshamta Sharma

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

When it comes to digital upskilling, sharing is caring

Launching a digital upskilling product is one thing but getting staff to use it is quite another. Katie Steen and Dave Weller harnessed the power of personalisation to get that all-important buy-in

Katie Steen, Dave Weller

The University of Exeter

Colleges of Advanced Studies at Semmelweis University

How student learning communities support professional development

An effective way to nurture talent is to enable not only individual but also community learning. Here’s how the Hungarian system of colleges for advanced studies helps to train medical professionals who are also well versed in social issues

Ferenc Godó

Semmelweis University

A practical guide to navigating the language of diversity

Navigating the language of diversity is a continuous journey that requires commitment and effort

Yusra Siddiqui

The University of Exeter

A group of people work in a room full of books

Tips for moving from learning designer to educational leader

Learning designers have all the skills to make great leaders. Here’s how to transition into the role

Paul Moss, Richard McInnes, Simon Marek

Adelaide University

Careers services must step up to support students with disabilities

From shaping a culture of support to working with industry, careers services have an important role in improving employability for students with disabilities

Peter Hylslop, Barbara Mackie

The University of Newcastle, Australia

A PhD graduate in cap and gown stands with her back to the camera

Five ways to connect PhD students with industry

Developing industry experience is often the last thing on the minds of the PhD community, but nurturing partnerships between academia and industry can enrich the journey, believes Maria-Christina Vogkli

Maria-Christina Vogkli

The London School of Economics and Political Science

Streamlining a move from a faculty position to a leadership role

Moving into a leadership role at an academic institution includes setting ambitious goals around collaboration and finding solutions to worldwide challenges. These techniques can support leadership success

Brian Lattimer

Virginia Tech

Researchers communicating their research to policymakers

What can the new government do to strengthen academic-policy engagement?

Following Labour’s landslide victory, all eyes will be on the new government to see how it will respond to current issues within higher education

Sarah Chaytor , Laura Bea, Chris Hewson

Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)

University leaders attending a conference

University leaders must become entrepreneurs to address inequality

A university’s achievement should not always be measured by rank, facilities or number of graduates. The greater community appreciates institutions that take steps to provide equal access to education, writes Bhakti Eko Nugroho

Bhakti Eko Nugroho

The University of Indonesia

Can AI offer everyone a personal tutor 24/7?

Generative artificial intelligence can trigger a certain amount of angst, but AI’s potential to support student learning should be explored, write Steve Hill and Quintus Stierstorfer

Steve Hill, Quintus Stierstorfer

Walbrook Institute London

How to become an administrator – and why you should

Many career paths lead towards administration. Arina Ziganshina draws on her own experiences to offer advice

Arina Ziganshina

Dubai Medical University

Students need a balanced diet of assessment practices

Let's evaluate the process and products of our assessments and incorporate innovative elements to better emulate real-world tasks, write David Tree, Stephanie Baines, Pauldy Otermans, Nicholas Worsfold and Emily Hobson

Multiple authors

Brunel University London , The University of East Anglia

Students role-playing a psychology appointment

What simulations bring to teaching soft skills

Role play and immersive VR experiences can bridge the gap between theory and practice as students acquire – and teachers assess – skills in communication and problem-solving

Daniel Brown, Krystal Schaffer, Kim Stewart

The University of Southern Queensland

Moving over to the dark side: academic or academic administrator?

Academics may view administrators with suspicion, but Elaine Sharplin recommends stepping over to the dark side – as long as you stay true to your roots

Elaine Sharplin

Nazarbayev University

21st-century skills for HE teachers

As teachers, we should continue to learn and reflect to equip ourselves with the skills, knowledge, expertise and other characteristics to cope with the complex and dynamic changes and challenges ahead of us, writes Adrian Man-Ho Lam

Adrian Man-Ho Lam

The University of Hong Kong

Making sport accessible to everyone on campus

Fitness and sport programmes are not only for elite athletes. Here, Phil Malatesta offers advice for how to maximise students’ opportunities for movement and physical activity

Phil Malatesta

University of Southampton

A woman shakes hand with a unseen person in an office setting

Innovative career services for a well-prepared workforce

How can universities enhance their student career support in response to the rapidly evolving employment landscape? Kelvin Cheng recommends three approaches to prepare students for better careers

Kelvin Cheng

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Teacher explaining concepts to a group of students

The zone of proximal development in four stages

The zone of proximal development offers a practical and effective approach to bridging the gap between the knowledge and ability of students with and without assistance

Arunima K V

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Develop and nurture teaching presence in a learning community

Strong teaching presence helps students facilitate their own learning. Here, Hannah Shaw and Mike Hackman offer quick wins for educators with advice on how to provide clear instruction and a safe learning space, and recognise topics as interconnected

Hannah Shaw, Mike Hackman

Cardiff University

A holographic image of a brain emerges from a smartphone

Three key collaborations to foster digital fluency in students

While digital skills development is all-important for employability, no one can predict what the job market will look like in a decade. Instead, focus on digital fluency for well-rounded future employees. Jeni Brown and Nedelin Velikov explain how

Jeni Brown, Nedelin Velikov

The London School of Economics and Political Science

Are you ready to manage?

Management is rewarding, but managing people is not an easy task. It takes commitment and genuine passion to develop and empower people to achieve their very best, writes Colleen Robinson-Hunte

Colleen Robinson-Hunte

The University of the West Indies

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