Oceania

Clock drawn on blackboard, time management

Around or against the clock: time management tips for higher education teachers

Careful lesson planning, understanding your universities’ support services and accepting mistakes will all save you time as a university educator. Here, John Weldon offers five time-management tips

John Weldon

Victoria University

A health professional checks a patient's lymph glands

Taking trust to the next level in healthcare assessment

When educating health professionals, the role of trust is paramount. Here’s how we can link entrustment with student consensus grading and programmatic assessment

James Thompson, Amanda Maddern

The University of Adelaide

Female lecturer at her laptop smiling to camera

Enhance inclusivity by switching to a more equitable work allocation model

A new approach to academic work allocation at the University of Newcastle promotes an inclusive working environment

Nicole Bagnall

The University of Newcastle, Australia

A teacher giving a lecture to a diverse class full of students

Building equitable learning pathways in HE

Higher education pathways that enable equitable opportunities for students to gain the required academic knowledge and skills for successful study are essential for widening participation

Anna Bennett

The University of Newcastle, Australia

Small online learning group

Beyond borders: how to make online global collaborative learning work

As higher education strives to ‘reset’ in the age of AI to become more flexible, interdisciplinary, open, focused on real-world learning and with authentic assessment, curriculum-embedded OGCL is a key path to future-ready graduates

Julie Lindsay

University of Southern Queensland

Student on a healthcare placement looking at x-ray

Where there’s WIL, there’s risk

As demand for universities to support work-integrated learning rises, so does exposure to potential pitfalls such as personal injury and reputational harm. What can higher education institutions do to mitigate the risks?

Clare Murray

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury

A human and a robot shake hands

A four-step process to embedding AI literacy in business courses

Business students will need to know how to work with AI tools in their future careers. Prepare them with this four-step process

John Murphy

The University of Adelaide

Students in a kitchen having breakfast together

Build healthy resident student communities with restorative practice

The integration of restorative practices within student residential communities can have a transformational impact

Gemma Edgar

The University of Newcastle, Australia

An illustration of business people sat on a growing plant

Three ways to embed career development learning more deeply in your curriculum

Embedding career development learning into curricular learning can be invaluable for students. Here’s how to integrate it more meaningfully

Anna Branford , Julian Lee

RMIT University

black woman at laptop with scales and gavel, law studies

International collaboration is a legal education opportunity

Cross-cultural understanding can enrich the ways in which educators in law integrate comparative legal analysis into their teaching, writes Petra Butler

Petra Butler

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury

A teacher giving a lecture at the front of class

A new learning outcomes model to nurture future-proof skills

A new framework allows us to use a transdisciplinary lens when crafting learning outcomes to help students develop future-proof skills

Kay Harrison

University of Auckland

Students working together in class

Use peer feedback to build engagement and belonging online

Giving feedback is a time-consuming and often frustrating part of teaching. What if educators handed the task to students? Here are the takeaways from an online business course

David Waller, Kaye Chan, Melissa Clarke

University of Technology Sydney

Microphone on stage in club

Academics can (and should) be idiots

The comedy stage can be a place for academics to be silly and let it all hang out. Chris Pahlow explores why humour is effective for scholars and the people they’re trying to communicate with about their research

Chris Pahlow

Amplifying Research

podcast graphic

THE podcast: what constitutes good teaching in higher education?

Two academics with experience in delivering and researching teaching in varied educational contexts discuss the complexities of effective instruction

Leon Tikly, Jason M. Lodge

University of Bristol, The University of Queensland

human intelligence v AI on scales illustration

Assessments that maintain fairness and authenticity without AI

In-person, reflective and analytical tasks require students to apply their learning in real-world ways that AI can’t easily replicate. Here are eight ways to tailor AI-resistant assessment

Temesgen Kifle

The University of Queensland

Hands holding a compass

Taking on academic leadership even if you are not prepared for it

The call to leadership can come before you feel ready for a more senior role, as happened to David Waller. Here he shares what he has learned from five years as a department head

David Waller

University of Technology Sydney

A lecturer speaks to a group of students

Four ways to tap into students’ family experiences for better learning

Using students’ family experiences as a jumping-off point for learning can help engage them and prepare them for the workforce. Here’s how to do it

Ankit Agarwal

The University of Adelaide

Female construction worker surveying a building

Empower migrant and refugee women for career success

Creating educational opportunities tailored to the needs of refugee women equips them with the skills and confidence to pursue employment opportunities

Temitope Egbelakin

The University of Newcastle, Australia

A lecturer gives a talk

‘What colour is your English?’ Linguistic racism’s impact on faculty of colour

Linguistic racism doesn’t just affect international students – it can hurt the mental health of staff too. Here’s how we can combat it

Sender Dovchin, Vander Tavares

Curtin University, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

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

University of Auckland

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

The University of Adelaide

Student demonstrating CAD technology

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

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

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury

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

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

The University of Adelaide

Careers advisor wirh a student

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

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

University of Southern Queensland

Three business people consider a document

For learning design projects, build the time to reflect on the past into your future

Reflective practice is essential for continuous improvement in learning design. Paul John Gregory Moss, Richard McInnes and Simon Marek explain how to incorporate structured reflection into project scopes

Paul Moss, Richard McInnes, Simon Marek

The University of Adelaide

A yellow ball rolls out ahead of blue blocks

We can face the challenge of corporatisation by embracing subversive leadership

Educational developers must balance the corporatisation of higher education with providing transformative education. To do this, subversive leadership is the key, argues Richard McInnes

Richard McInnes

The University of Adelaide

Kids watching demonstration at science centre

School visits are a triple-win for academics, schools and society

For researchers, taking science into the community is an opportunity to hone communication skills, increase impact and enthuse children to pursue their own university studies, writes Ben Kennedy. Plus, it’s fun

Ben Kennedy

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury

Multilingual concept

Australian universities need to do more than pay lip service to multilingualism

How can we train Australian schoolteachers in cultural and linguistic diversity if our universities are English-only zones? Embed translanguaging practices in our courses, writes Sue Ollerhead

Sue Ollerhead

Macquarie University

Compass pointing to sustainability

Why visible senior leadership in sustainability matters

Successful or sustainable? Is this the biggest challenge that universities face when striving to reduce their carbon footprint? Jan Evans-Freeman explains where leadership fits into the equation

Jan Evans-Freeman

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury

Multiracial group of students taking a selfie in the park

Where’s Hector? How a scavenger hunt helps first-year students explore the university campus

A collaborative discovery activity has benefits that go beyond simply helping new students get to know the university grounds. It fosters belonging and fun – and even promotes physical well-being, writes Hector Viveros Tapia

Hector Viveros Tapia

Macquarie University

Lawyers shaking hands

Seven structural changes to help bring Indigenous perspectives into curricula

Impermanence of resources, priorities and personnel makes curriculum reform a challenge. Here, Kirstie Smith and Simon Young offer strategies based on their experience in a regional law school

Kirstie Smith , Simon Young

University of Southern Queensland

line of students showing LGBTQ+ allyship

What you can do today for a meaningful Pride Month

Fear of being tokenistic, or feeling they don’t know enough to start, can stop many people from engaging with queer inclusion. Here, Brooke Szücs offers first steps towards allyship

Brooke Szücs

The University of Queensland

robot tin can telephone

Talking to students about AI

Socio-economic, cultural, geographic and other factors mean that some students know more about AI than others, and we can’t have an effective discussion about AI and academic integrity until we all know what we’re talking about, writes John Weldon

John Weldon

Victoria University

Maori woman weaving

Uncovering Indigenous insights: let’s research together

Meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities requires researchers to shift away from conventional methodologies and towards more collaborative and participatory approaches. Here, Sarah Wiki-Bennett shares six key tenets

Sarah Wiki-Bennett

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury

Two male Asian students working together

An assessment design that promotes learning and academic integrity

Identity-verified assessment can be used alongside online tasks to check students’ understanding and foster collaborative learning, writes Carl Sherwood

Carl Sherwood

The University of Queensland

Australian Indigenous artwork (detail)

Indigenising teaching and learning through the Big Five ideas of traditional knowledge

Educators should familiarise themselves with the foundational values and beliefs that inform Indigenous Knowledges in order to integrate them into their teaching in a meaningful way, write three First Nations lecturers

Cally Jetta, Emerson Zerafa-Payne , Paul Carmody

University of Southern Queensland

Young man having stressful job interview

How not to land a job in academia

Not interested in teaching? Check. No publications? Check. Not keen to offer service? Check. Flip this list of what not to do in applying for jobs for tips to help secure that academic position

David Waller

University of Technology Sydney

AI in healthcare concept

Charting the future: ChatGPT’s impact on nursing education and assessments

Interactive workshops and user-friendly guides can unlock the potential of ChatGPT in assessment and overcome initial hesitation around its use. Here, Dianne Stratton-Maher looks at ethical and responsible use of generative AI

Dianne Stratton-Maher

University of Southern Queensland

AI projection coming out of a laptop

AI and assessment redesign: a four-step process

If GenAI tools have ushered in an era in which institutions can no longer assure the integrity of each individual assessment, the sector must focus on assuring the integrity of awards, write Samuel Doherty and Steven Warburton

Samuel Doherty , Steven Warburton

The University of Newcastle, Australia

Arrows diverting into two streams

The trouble with Bloom’s taxonomy in an age of AI

When using large language models to create learning tasks, educators should be careful with their prompts if the LLM relies on Bloom’s taxonomy as a supporting dataset. Luke Zaphir and Dale Hansen break down the issues

Luke Zaphir , Dale Hansen

The University of Queensland

Group of students in greenhouse

How to make public engagement work for early career academics

Academics need to be able to translate what they research to engage a wide range of audiences. But to do that, scientists must first find the public engagement shape that fits them and their schedule. Here’s advice for getting started

Sien van der Plank, John Duncan, Yanna Fidai

University of Southampton, The University of Western Australia, Plymouth Marine Laboratory

podcast graphic

THE podcast: human connection and the student experience

Two Australian academics take on the role of person-to-person contact in student success and well-being in higher education – whether that’s the benefits of in-person teaching or the effects of using AI for academic work

Jan Slapeta, Joseph Crawford

University of Sydney, University of Tasmania

Student writing in a diary

Fostering critical thinking with reflective journals

Timely, frequent and constructive feedback has a powerful influence on student achievement. However, its impact on higher education students is hotly debated and often highly variable

Lesley Gardner, Udayangi Muthupoltotage

University of Auckland

students playing a board game

Creating an impactful social group for neurodivergent students

Meet-ups can support neurodivergent students (mostly those with autism and ADHD) to navigate the social complexities of student life and the workplace. Here, Brooke Szücs and Ben Roden-Cohen share tips for creating inclusive neurodivergent settings, based on their experience

Ben Roden-Cohen, Brooke Szücs

The University of Queensland

multiracial university students sitting outside

Curriculum reform to boost under-represented students’ success in higher education

Large-scale transition from traditional curricula to a block model can have a positive impact on student achievement. Here, Thomas Roche, Erica Wilson and Liz Goode describe five steps to implement whole-institution reform, based on a study of a regional public university in Australia

Thomas Roche, Erica Wilson, Liz Goode

Southern Cross University

Students standing outside a campus building

A tailored onboarding programme can help set neurodivergent students up for success

The recent introduction of an early entry programme at the University of Newcastle created an unexpected but welcome opportunity to respond to a growing population of neurodivergent students commencing their studies

Scott Laing

The University of Newcastle, Australia

Women in leadership concept

Three principles for leadership in academia

Reflecting on her personal journey, Catherine Moran shares the key guidelines that have shaped her leadership as a woman in higher education in times of change

Catherine Moran

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury