Active learning strategies to boost student engagement Practical advice on implementing active learning strategies in the classroom for enhanced learning outcomesIbham Veza, Vorathin Epin Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)
We’ve engaged 250 student volunteers to hold climate emitters to account The Net Zero Tracker taps into students’ passion for climate action, teaches them net-zero literacy and builds their employability. Here’s how we work with themCamilla HyslopUniversity of Oxford
What happens when we can’t help a student when they need us most?The job of university personal tutor is not nine-to-five, and academics in support roles are fallible and don’t always get it right. Catherine Lee shares advice for those times from personal experienceCatherine LeeAnglia Ruskin University
A checklist for inclusive assessment and feedback, in a post-ChatGPT worldA checklist for creating inclusive assessment and feedback practices that help to improve student learning experiences and respond to challenges posed by ChatGPTZheng Feei Ma, Kim DuffyUniversity of the West of England Bristol
Tips for universities on delivering effective EDI degree programmesWorkplace demand for EDI expertise is growing, and numerous universities are now offering full degree programmes in this area. Eli Joseph offers starting points for doing it wellEli JosephColumbia University
Field journals: a deceptively simple solution for improving engagementSending students into the field armed with journals (and latterly iPads) has provided pedagogical lessons that can be applied far beyond my field of natural history, says Michael BrunsonMichael BrunsonKansas State University
Failure as a career development toolHow to encourage students to actively examine their ‘failures’ to provide useful direction and inform improvements when considering their future career optionsDawn Lees, Rachel SloanThe University of Exeter
How to support students considering self-employmentNot all students want – nor can they find in a challenging employment market – graduate jobs after university. Victoria Prince looks at what more faculties can do to support students in creating their own business opportunitiesVictoria PrinceNottingham Trent University
Careers services: how to prepare graduates for workplace abuseUniversity career services must do a better job of helping students identify and manage psychological abuse following entry into the labour marketWilliam E. Donald, Sucheta Das Ronin Institute, University of Southampton
Understanding compassion fatigue and how to prevent itTips and strategies for reducing compassion fatigue among university faculty and staff Catherine WehlburgAthens State University
Look after the intangibles and the metrics will look after themselvesUnmeasurable elements such as enthusiasm, belonging and motivation are valuable parts of the university experience. Sue Lee looks at ways to embrace these intangible assetsSue LeeUniversity of Staffordshire
Silence is golden when you ‘shut up and write’ togetherHow to build a supportive community of practice and peer learning through the simple practice of meeting online to ‘shut up and write’Kelly Louise Preece, Jo SutherstThe University of Exeter
How ChatGPT can help disrupt assessment overload Advances in AI are not necessarily the enemy – in fact, they should prompt long overdue consideration of assessment types and frequency, says David CarlessDavid CarlessThe University of Hong Kong
Why we start undergraduate transdisciplinary research from day oneHands-on knowledge discovery can give students the chance to put learning into action from the beginning of their studies, write Gray Kochhar-Lindgren and Julian TannerGray Kochhar-Lindgren, Julian TannerThe University of Hong Kong
Why it is time to start co-creating professional development with employees Steps to working with employees to shape and improve professional development programmes Heather Emerson-YoungNortheastern University
Failing your way to academic successFailure offers students and educators a chance to explore their shortcomings and come to greater self-awareness. In fact, it can be seen as growth in disguise, write Kelvin Yihang Zhang and Kim Yong JoongKelvin Yihang Zhang, Kim Yong JoongMacau University of Science and Technology
Spruce up lectures to capture the interest of all students A guide to making lectures more interactive learning experiences that keep students interestedVitalia Kinakh The University of Manchester
Develop the skills of the future through challenge-based learningModern employers require a broad suite of skills from graduates; Jorge Membrillo-Hernández outlines how challenge-based learning can help, and how to get startedJorge Membrillo-Hernández Tecnológico de Monterrey
Raising aspirations: lessons in running a young scholars programmeWidening access to higher education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds is a priority for UK universities. Here, Valsa Koshy outlines lessons from a successful programme for primary school pupilsValsa KoshyBrunel University London
How immediate feedback motivates both students and educators Digital tools can give teachers on-the-spot feedback from students and students access to their results and progress in real time. László Tornóci looks at a changing landscape from both sides László Tornóci Semmelweis University
Actions to help your university stand out in a crowdWith competition for students fiercer than ever in the higher education sector, Ayten Ordu outlines some of the ways universities can achieve higher visibilityAyten OrduNear East University
Restructuring a university, part oneWhen Bill Flanagan took the helm, the University of Alberta was facing a $222 million funding cut – 20 per cent of the university’s operating budget. In this two-part article, he explains how the university undertook a historic overhaulBill FlanaganUniversity of Alberta
Restructuring a university, part twoWhen funding pressures made it clear that the University of Alberta had to change, it overhauled its entire way of working. Here, president Bill Flanagan explains how they did itBill FlanaganUniversity of Alberta
How to write better awards entries From conducting in-depth interviews to telling the whole story, Sam Russell provides top tips for crafting a compelling narrative that will appeal to awards panelsSam RussellArden University
What should be inside a teaching toolkit?Teaching practices and student support are highly contextual so how can academic developers create institutional ‘toolkits’ that meet the needs of staff across different schools and departments?Eleanor Cook, Rachel Griffiths , Caitlin KightThe University of Exeter
I’m finally ready to admit that I’m an academic who suffers from depressionI’m opening up because those of us hounded by mental health issues should not have to add fear of job loss and stigmatisation to our list of concerns, says James DerounianJames DerounianUniversity of Bolton
Generation Z presents new challenges for medical educationDigitally savvy and adapted to rapid change, this cohort of future doctors needs emotional support and help managing expectations and setbacksGyörgy PureblSemmelweis University
Steps to building a winning online presence for your universityThe majority of students now research universities online, so this is a vital component of marketing. David Riley lays out the foundations of building a strong online presenceDavid RileyThe University of the West Indies
The four-day week in higher education: can we make it work?With a culture of overwork eroding well-being among UK university staff, could a four-day working week be part of the solution? Rushana Khusainova looks at whether this mode of working is feasible in higher educationRushana KhusainovaThe University of Bristol
Don’t forget online learning in your university marketingUniversity marketing often focuses on the campus experience, so what should institutions do to make prospective students aware of their online course offering?Ari BadlishahThe University of Edinburgh
You’re not alone: tips to help academics avoid social isolationConnections with colleagues matter – without them, support during periods of reappointment, promotion or tenure can feel tenuous. And those unwritten expectations of collegiality become opaque, explains Karen Z. SprolesKaryn Z. Sproles United States Naval Academy
How to succeed at policy engagement, part two: mapping the landscapeIn the second part of her series on policy engagement, Jo Clift advises how to build a picture of the policy landscape in your area of interest and establish who to engage withJo CliftJo Clift Consulting
How to run a marketing campaign in a devolved university Advice on co-ordinating a university-wide marketing campaign in a large, devolved organisationHeather MacBainThe University of Edinburgh
Scales, stars and numbers: the question of evaluationMarking schemes are a recurring source of contention in academic discussions, where the key word is evaluation. Daniel Jutras offers a brief reflection on the art of grading and feedbackDaniel JutrasUniversity of Montreal
Tactics for leading and engaging students in research competitionsResearch competitions can motivate, encourage and inspire students, but we must align their expectations and encourage teamwork throughout the project Zheng Pai The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
University brand communities: building reputation among different audiencesUniversities are complex organisations with multiple audiences and stakeholders. How can fostering a strong brand community help their reputations to stand out from others?Sotiris T. Lalaounis, William S. Harvey , Corinna BoothThe University of Bristol
Three features that will make your Mooc stand outLearning designers and educators should focus on creating value for learners that goes beyond Mooc content. In this article, Temesgen Kifle and Ben Cossalter share innovative features that drive belonging and engagementTemesgen Kifle, Ben CossalterThe University of Queensland
Bingo! Try bringing games into your staff trainingTo engage professional service staff with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, a team at the University of Exeter took a novel approach, creating SDG Bingo. Here’s how they did it Eleanor Cook, Sean PorterThe University of Exeter
How to get students to play their part in the flipped classroomThe flipped classroom is the perfect pedagogy for the information age – but our classes must not punish students who struggle to engage when learning independentlyDoug Specht, Gunter SaundersUniversity of Westminster
Small talk: love it or leave it, but teach it to your TAsCasual conversation fosters a sense of belonging, but it’s not a universal skill. Sarah Kegley details a short workshop that helps international teaching assistants feel at ease making small talk Sarah KegleyGeorgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities
AI text detectors: a stairway to heaven or hell?The emergence of GPTZero, OpenAI’s text classifier and Turnitin’s AI detector bring a risk of over-reliance on AI classifiers. Are they a solution or a further problem to be solved?Miguel de CarvalhoThe University of Edinburgh
A 100-year-old principle for teaching students digital study skillsA guide to helping students improve their digital study skills through experiential learningJennie FoxThe University of Exeter
Is your university worth the investment for international students? International student concerns have changed in recent years, and traditional study-abroad destinations need to keep upCagri Bagcioglu Cintana Education
Phenomenon-based learning: what, why and howPhenomenon-based learning empowers students to apply disciplinary knowledge to real-world situations. Here, Sue Lee and Kate Cuthbert outline the principles of PhBL and how it can be adopted in higher educationSue Lee, Kate CuthbertUniversity of Staffordshire
Five steps for creating the ideal home officeWith more and more academics and staff working from home, Pablo A. Torres outlines some of the areas to consider to make it a comfortable, productive experiencePablo A. TorresTecnológico de Monterrey
Ten actions lecturers can take to boost black students’ belongingA 10-step guide to how lecturers can improve the experience of black students studying in predominantly white institutionsPatrice SeuwouUniversity of Northampton
How to manage assessment feedback in large classes? Get students involvedDelivering quality feedback for every individual student in a large class can be challenging. That is where peer feedback can help if structured and guided effectively, write four teaching academicsSteven Bateman, Shi-Min How, Chew Ging Lee , Jie ZhangXi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University , University of Southampton Malaysia
Want students back in the classroom? Don’t give everything away onlineEmpty classrooms are an unfortunate reality of post-pandemic universities. To stop this, we need to explain the fundamentals of learning and tempt students backHarriet Dunbar-MorrisThe University of Portsmouth
So you want to host an international online conference?How hard can it be to stage an online conference? Don’t you just book a whole bunch of Zooms and send out invites? Well, yes and no. Here are five key takeaways from our experience as rookies to conference organisationJohn Weldon, Loretta Konjarski, Bert OraisonVictoria University
The hows and whys of improved interactions with international studentsStrategies for overcoming potential cultural differences and supporting better academic-international student relationshipsLenka Janik BlaskovaThe University of Exeter
