Feature article

How to develop and nurture social presence in a learning community

Fostering a rich learning community in your module or programme can be difficult. Here, Hannah Shaw and Mike Hackman draw on staff and student feedback to provide quick, effective wins to develop the social presence in your learning communities

Hannah Shaw, Mike Hackman

Cardiff University

How to attract students who think they cannot afford higher education

As people all over the world grapple with rising costs, what can universities do to ease the financial burden of higher education from the very start of the process? Brooke Wilson offers her advice

Brooke Wilson

Colorado State University Global

Film storytelling can enhance learning in STEM subjects

In the era of social technologies, authentic storytelling becomes a powerful tool for cultural and social change, a fundamental role of higher education, writes Arijit Mukhopadhyay

Arijit Mukhopadhyay

University of Salford

Nudge your way up the NSS ladder

Small module changes based on behavioural insights into human flaws can help students collaborate more and procrastinate less – and boost engagement outcomes in your classes, writes Jana Sadeh

Jana Sadeh

University of Southampton

Crossing time zones: developing a transnational professional development series

Co-creation with TNE partners allows both front-line educators and host institution opportunities for quality assurance and pathways to build communities of practice. Here, Dom Conroy and Santanu Vasant outline 11 steps to working with international partners

Dom Conroy, Santanu Vasant

London Metropolitan University

Two office workers having a conversation

How to turn down a promotion without losing face

Being offered a promotion might be satisfying, but if it doesn’t align with your career goals, you should not feel obligated to accept the job, writes Shwetha Mudabagilu Krishnapp

Shwetha Mudabagilu Krishnapp

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

A team of white water rafters battle the rapids

Build yourself a life raft by establishing a strong mentor relationship

Mentorship can offer a place of stability amid the choppy waters of a new role. Ibiyemi Omeihe explains how to find your new guide

Ibiyemi Omeihe

University of the West of Scotland

Young black woman rubs temples at laptop, frustration

Strategies for cultivating academic resilience

In a career that will make you question everything, challenge and failure are tools for moving forward, writes Andrew Stapleton. Here, he offers techniques to build resilience after setbacks

Andrew Stapleton

Independent academic

Female accountange speaking to a colleague in an office

How can accounting educators cultivate highly sought-after graduates?

Accounting education must prepare graduates with the skills to thrive in a profession that is experiencing radical changes

Susan Smith , Richard Murphy

UCL, University of Sheffield

Three scientists in white coats converse in a laboratory

How to turn an average collaboration into a dream team

In this extract from ‘Scientific Collaboration’, Jeanne M. Fair advises scientists to hone the skill of collaboration for better research

Jeanne M. Fair

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Creating safe spaces for students to talk about financial difficulties

Poor financial health can lead to mental health difficulties and isolation for students. Here, Caroline Deylaud Koukabi and Joanna West offer tips for giving students inclusive spaces to discuss concerns amid the cost-of-living crisis

Caroline Deylaud Koukabi, Joanna West

University of Luxembourg

The left hand side of a woman's face with her hand held up against her ear

How to create effective listening environments for neurodiverse, international and deaf students

It’s important to consider the influence of your learning environment on listening effort, cognitive load and cognitive fatigue. Here are some tips

Lindsey Jones

The University of Manchester

A group of students using smartphones with brightly coloured shells

Make ‘switch your phone on’ a requirement of your lessons

Students are more likely to carry smartphones than pens when they walk into your class, so make use of their potential. Fernando Rosell-Aguilar outlines how to involve your students’ favourite device in active learning experiences

Fernando Rosell-Aguilar

Arden University

How academics can ‘stay put’ without ‘staying still’

Moving universities for career advancement is a common practice in academia. But what happens if you want to remain in the same institution? Here, Doune Macdonald shares how to keep progressing into new roles and responsibilities

Doune Macdonald

The University of Queensland

A man with a backpack wanders along a jungle path

Researchers should harness the explorer’s spirit to find their career path

Lee Chien Ching shares advice to her younger self and other early career academics on forging your own path through the sometimes forbidding jungle of academia

Lee Chien Ching

Singapore Institute of Technology

A manager high-fives a member of staff around a meeting room table

Six tips for when you’re moving up into university management

Making the leap into academic administration can feel daunting, but Yağmur Çerkez’s advice will help you to develop the skills and strategies you need to thrive

Yağmur Çerkez

Near East University

How our Study Together programme promotes belonging and improves well-being

By offering students a space to meet, study and socialise outside the classroom, universities can improve engagement and reduce feelings of loneliness on campus

Gemma Standen

The University of East Anglia

Could Athenian democracy improve the quality of science?

What if universities were governed according to the open culture that drives scientific research itself? Zoltan Dienes and Jörg Huber look at an ancient model for decision-making

Zoltan Dienes, Jörg Huber

University of Sussex, University of Brighton

The transformative power of mentoring in historically black colleges and universities

HBCUs’ culture of generosity and community has much to offer all colleges and universities, write Marybeth Gasman and Levon T. Esters. Here, they distill their research into four key elements

Marybeth Gasman, Levon T. Esters

Rutgers University, Penn State University

Sustainability accounting is coming: here’s how to navigate it

We can expect radical changes in sustainability accounting over the next few years. Developing a sustainability mindset for yourself and your students seems like a good place to start, write Sulaiman Aliyu and Toby York

Sulaiman Aliyu, Toby York

Middlesex University

A group of students working on a project together

Use design thinking and storytelling to help international students find their voices

Exchanging stories allows students to express themselves and relate to others. Here are activities, based on co-creation and empathy, that encourage this

Bo Kelestyn, Nikita Asnani, Minali Sanghani, Weiwei Su, Janet Zheng

The University of Warwick

Students in an anatomy class at Semmelweis University

How practical education and talent management support medical students

A practice-oriented focus together with personalised talent support lead to success in medical education for local and international students. Here, Alán Alpár explains why teaching, science and patient care must go hand in hand

Alán Alpár

Semmelweis University

Trainers and a water bottle lie abandoned on a beach

Sprinting in hindsight: what we learned from validating university programmes at pace

Having used a Design Sprint methodology for university-wide academic programme validation, has the dash to a photo finish improved quality processes? Zoë Allman and Leanne de Main share their experience

Zoë Allman, Leanne de Main

De Montfort University

The double-edged sword of open access publishing

Inclusivity is seen as a benefit of open access publishing, but is this an illusion? Here, William E. Donald asks questions about who pays and what counts, and offers scenarios for a fairer journal model

William E. Donald

University of Southampton

Class of students using Etherpad to discuss learning points

Use Etherpad to improve engagement in large transnational classes

By leveraging technology to create an anonymous and collaborative space, educators can empower hesitant students to actively contribute and foster a more interactive and inclusive learning environment

Ying Feng

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Button badges with the Scottish saltire pile up

Every student in Scotland can vote: here’s why that should matter to educators

Teach your students that voting is an investment in the future – and help them build a lifelong habit. Murray Leith offers advice

Murray Leith

University of the West of Scotland

Four steps for integrating generative AI in learning and teaching

From class preparation to critical thinking and reflection, this four-step checklist will help university teachers support the ethical and informed use of artificial intelligence tools in the classroom

Zheng Feei Ma, Antony Hill

University of the West of England Bristol

Female academic on her laptop receiving news about a promotion to an academic administration role

How to make the move from academia to academic administration

Transitioning from academia to academic administration requires proactivity and a desire to learn. Here are some tips to help you prepare

N. N. Sharma

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Scientists using case-based learning to treat a patient

How to enhance pharmaceutical education through case-based learning

Case-based learning helps students apply their knowledge and improve patient outcomes. Here is how to integrate it into pharmaceutical education

Narumol Phosrithong

Siam University

A teacher writes English phrases on a whiteboard

Writing courses can be more enriching for international students than you think

For many international students, English writing courses are a requirement. While such courses can help them polish their definite articles, they can do so much more. Umasankar Patra suggests harnessing the diversity in your classroom

Umasankar Patra

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras

How to harness community knowledge to tackle complex policy challenges

Working with local communities can help uncover new insights to tackle complex social policy challenges. Saffron Woodcraft and Joseph Cook explain how to set up high-impact citizen social science research

Saffron Woodcraft, Joseph Cook

UCL

How to engage with the media and expand the impact of your work

Academic scholars are generally not trained to write for broad audiences, so how do you get your compelling, newsworthy research out there? Gregory R. Goldsmith offers five considerations

Gregory Goldsmith

Chapman University

Two yellow cups joined by a string on a blue background

Finger on the pulse: establish a culture of communication for better feedback

Why wait until the end of the course to hear from your students? Sasha Lanyon encourages a real-time, authentic approach to student evaluation

Sasha Lanyon

Adelaide University

Celebrate Black History Year and tackle racial inequality all year long

Instead of consigning the recognition of Black histories to one single month, Deborah Husbands, Stephen Bunbury and Dibyesh Anand advocate for a Black History Year

Deborah Husbands , Stephen Bunbury, Dibyesh Anand

University of Westminster

A teacher gestures to a computer while three students listen

Transition from expert to guide by embracing generative AI

In the process of learning how to use generative AI, Kyrin Liong rekindled her inner student

Kyrin Liong

Singapore Institute of Technology

A group of policymakers discussing research

How to facilitate knowledge exchange and build trust with policymakers

Those seeking to create impact with their evidence should be ready to understand how public sector bodies make sense of the value of research, writes Julian Molina

Julian Molina

The University of Bristol

Illustration of a man with clouds for a head

Believe it or not, you can use conspiracy theories as tools for teaching

When misinformation is a global risk, critical thinking skills are more vital than ever, writes Malcolm Schofield. Here, he offers techniques from parapsychology and belief studies that can make research and analysis more rigorous

Malcolm Schofield

University of Derby

We set up a thought leadership programme to amplify PhD research

Dalhousie's OpenThink programme shows how universities can empower the next generation of thought leaders and facilitate public engagement

Lynne M. Robinson

Dalhousie University

How to keep LGBTQ+ students safe when studying abroad

What can universities do to help their LGBTQ+ students study abroad and travel the world, without compromising their safety? Raquel Recuero provides advice

Raquel Racuero

Healix

The language of inclusivity is not inclusive

Terms such as equity, diversity and inclusion give the impression that they are dealing with what is present. In fact, EDI work deals with what is absent, writes Pascal Matthias. He offers ways to think, speak and write differently

Pascal Matthias

University of Southampton

What we learned from a pilot study aimed at getting first-generation students into pharmacy

Many students have little knowledge of the role and career opportunities of a pharmacist. This is even more so the case for first-generation students

Carl Harrington, Rosemary Norton

The University of East Anglia

Giving graduation a 21st-century makeover

Graduations can be stuffy affairs, writes James Derounian. He suggests that with technological wizardry, student voice and a little awe, universities could add sparkle to the pomp and ritual

James Derounian

University of Bolton

Six ways to boost international student recruitment

International students bring diversity, talent and economic value to our universities and society. Here are some ways to encourage them to apply to your institution

Steven McGuire

University of Sussex

A glowing tool icon is generated from a tablet by a woman in the background

Use technology to boost productivity and beat burnout

Ayşe Hyusein advises using a range of techniques and tools for more effective time management

Ayşe Hyusein

Near East University

People at an event chat together in small groups

Four ways universities can enhance their community impact

Go beyond the campus walls to enrich the surrounding community educationally, socially and economically. Xiuli Guo outlines how

Xiuli Guo

University of the West of Scotland

Fostering student co-creation to give back to the community

Engaging in local civic projects offers students meaningful learning opportunities, fosters co-creation and supports the community at large. Here, Martha Sullivan outlines the benefits based on working with the Empty Bowls project

Martha Sullivan

Virginia Tech

How to support individuals with hearing loss at your institution

Many people with hearing impairments do not think they need support. Here are some ways to provide it

Simon Hayhoe

The University of Exeter

Embedding lean practices in higher education

How can university processes be more efficient and sustainable? Here’s how one continuous improvement team took a viral approach to efficiency through lean thinking, lean leadership and lean toolkits

Tammi Sinha, Pete Rykowski , Michael Shaw

University of Southampton

Conference presentations 101: master the art of speaking to an audience

Don’t get stage fright when it comes to presenting your research. Ayten Ordu offers her tips for preparing for speaking success

Ayten Ordu

Near East University

What support students need to succeed in work placements

Students in work-based learning placements need support before, through and when returning from their experience. Here is advice for universities and academic tutors to maximise the benefits of the opportunity for all

Saheda Begum, Zoë Allman

De Montfort University

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