‘I’ll just clear my inbox first…’Reframing productivity and defending your diary can transform academic output. Here are tips for protecting your writing timeMultiple authorsThe University of Southern Queensland
How to run effective industry-enriched project-based learning in STEMThe foundation of widening participation lies in a curriculum that is flexible enough to accommodate increasing student diversity while aligning with industry needs, writes James WilliamsJames WilliamsUniversity of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Not just good intentions: how university staff can support genuine racial justicePractical steps can support racial-minority students, call out bias and make campuses safer at a time when racism in Australian universities is more real than ever, writes Aaron Teo Aaron TeoThe University of Southern Queensland
Why turn your thesis into a book? Publishing a book can boost your profile as a researcher, improve your h-index and increase your competitiveness on the job market. Here, Jessica Gildersleeve walks through the steps from thesis to bookJessica GildersleeveThe University of Southern Queensland
Yes, GenAI can make academic writing easier without making us less scholarlyGenerative AI does not change scholarship’s foundations of judgement, authorship and care, but it does require academics to apply them more intentionally when writingNicole BrownlieThe University of Southern Queensland
International study experiences can be great equalisers – but only if diverse students participateIn part two of his series on outbound student mobility, Lucas Lixinski explains why international study experiences can be so powerful in levelling socio-economic inequality in higher education and how institutions can support thisLucas LixinskiUNSW Sydney
‘The process of writing forces the writer to be present’Writing is hard and uncomfortable, but the craft of turning thoughts into words should not be lost to the frictionless ease of generative AI, write Jackie Webb and Christina BirnbaumJackie Webb, Christina BirnbaumThe University of Southern Queensland
How storytelling can turn international students into the most powerful voices in the room Turning presentations into a visual storytelling task allows international students to demonstrate their learning through elements such as sound, visuals, silence and pacing rather than just languageNatalie CumminsUniversity of Technology Sydney
A practical tool for valid assessments in the GenAI-enabled universityAn assessment flowchart can help guide educators through the delicate balance of whether or not to allow GenAI in their assignment design. Here’s how it worksRebecca Smith, Paul Moss, Sasikala Rathnappulige, Carina CorreasAdelaide University
Campus webinar: co-creation and tapping into the student voiceHear experts from four Australian universities discuss how educators, course designers, professional development teams and institutions can embed the skills for effective co-creation in the classroomKathleen Mahon, Joseph Wenta, Lorelle Burton, Iven MareelsThe University of Queensland , The University of Newcastle, Australia, The University of Southern Queensland , Federation University Australia
Campus Talks: ‘Use your brain!’ And other pointers from a seasoned computer scientist on using AI in researchHear a leading researcher in artificial intelligence discuss the potential of these digital tools for advancing knowledge and what effective and ethical AI use looks likeKarin Verspoor, Miranda PrynneRMIT University, Campus
Use the five stages of grief to guide academic staff through AI adoptionAs generative AI reshapes teaching and assessment, resistance is often as emotional as it is pedagogical. Drawing on Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ framework, Michael Mehmet and Rushana Khusainova offer advice for supporting staff through the realities of AI adoptionMichael Mehmet, Rushana KhusainovaThe University of Bristol, University of Wollongong
Strategies to promote belonging from the first day of term – and beyondCreate a supportive learning environment for a sense of community among your students, by deploying strategies to lay the foundations and build on themMultiple authorsAdelaide University
Campus Talks: How to turn vulnerability into a teaching superpowerAuthenticity and connection are key to supporting students in the classroom. This means it is important for educators to develop the skills to show up as their whole selves but also understand how to protect their boundariesMarissa Edwards, Eliza ComptonThe University of Queensland , Campus
How can we revive the popularity of exchanges and study trips? Make students feel safeIn the first of a five-part series on outbound student mobility, Lucas Lixinski looks at what care is due to students travelling overseas as part of their studies, and how this can incentivise or deter them from spending time in other countries Lucas LixinskiUNSW Sydney
Don’t cry for me, academia: gamifying the early career experienceWajeehah Aayeshah created the online card game Academic Tears to boost empathy for early career academics, and explored a new way of communicating research. Here’s how she did itWajeehah Aayeshah University of Melbourne
Making student experience a core part of academic workA student and an academic outline how universities must make student experience an explicit part of academic roles, from workloads to resourcing and recognitionRoma Forbes, Benjamin OngThe University of Queensland
How to evolve with GenAI: an educator’s guideThe launch of GenAI has prompted a new stage of experimentation for university education. Here’s how to explore and refine, finding out what works and what doesn’tLin YueAdelaide University
Four common arguments for acknowledging AI use (and why they are wrong)Educators may want AI to be used well or to go away entirely, write Chloe Salisbury and Luke Zaphir. Here, they take on a central piece of AI lore and offer ways forwardChloe Salisbury, Luke Zaphir The University of Queensland
In a world of short attention spans, the best story winsWhen students become storytellers, rather than passive recipients of knowledge, learning is more memorable. And a little help from GenAI can get them startedNatalie CumminsUniversity of Technology Sydney
Campus Talks: The real-world power of soft skillsHow do universities ensure their curricula meet the demands from industry, government and students for career-ready graduates equipped with vital transferable skills? Three experts explain how institutions are working to align higher education and skills development David Bell, Dawn Bennett, Derek HardingUniversity of Sunderland, Independent consultant, Swinburne University of Technology
Place Indigenous knowledge at the heart of academic inquiryDecolonise the curriculum by engaging students with historically marginalised knowledge from a range of sources. Here’s howKam KaurAdelaide University
What happened to creativity in the classroom?When generative AI leads 150 students to submit the same ‘creative’ work, something is afoot in arts and humanities education. Here, Leah Henrickson and Luke Zaphir turn insights from cognitive science into ways to use AI to boost students’ creativityLeah Henrickson, Luke Zaphir The University of Queensland
Be my guest speakerIncorporating guest speaker presentations as part of work-integrated learning helps university educators as well as students, writes Temesgen Kifle. It can enhance teaching practice, build stronger connections with industry, and keep courses up to date with evolving workforce needsTemesgen KifleThe University of Queensland
How can universities show the impact of research and boost connections with the public?The need for higher education institutions to show economic, social and environmental impact of their research and how it benefits communities is urgent. Here, a panel from Australia and New Zealand share ways to take discoveries from the lecture theatre to the front line Lucy Johnston, Gill Jolly, Paul HarrisUniversity of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Innovative Research Universities
Assessment tasks that support human skillsAssignments that focus on exploration, analysis and authenticity offer a road map for university assessment that incorporates AI while retaining its rigour and human elementsAmir Ghapanchi, Afrooz PurarjomandlangrudiVictoria University
What can the university sector learn from block teaching?Once seen as a pedagogical experiment, the block plan is ready for its researchers and practitioners to move beyond self-examination and share their innovations with the wider higher education community, writes John WeldonJohn WeldonVictoria University
Do your students know the consequences of AI use on an internship programme?Students are using GenAI tools in their university work, but what about in the workplace? Are they unknowingly putting their employers at risk? Here’s how to prevent a potential data breachBonnie Dean, Kelli Nicola-Richmond, Joanna Tai, Jack WaltonUniversity of Wollongong, Deakin University
Why AI literacy must come before policyWhen developing rules and guidelines around the uses of artificial intelligence, the first question to ask is whether the university policymakers and staff responsible for implementing them truly understand how learners can meet the expectations they setKathryn MacCallum, David ParsonsUniversity of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
What comes next for the block model in university teaching?Six critical challenges face higher education institutions that have adopted block planning for their teaching schedules as the approach matures and expands globally, writes John WeldonJohn WeldonVictoria University
How to prepare graduates for a bicultural and global futureEmbedding Indigenous perspectives into curriculum requires more than symbolic gestures. Here’s how universities can move from compliance to transformation – and the practical steps we’ve learned from our journeyJoce Nuttall, Liz BrownUniversity of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Solving the soft skills crisis using artificial intelligenceEmployers seek transferable skills such as communication and cultural awareness, but how can universities translate these aspirations into meaningful, scalable learning experiences for students? AI personas offer possibilitiesKieran WilliamsonUniversity of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
How interactive orals transform assessment – and how to implement themInteractive orals shift testing from memorisation to meaningful dialogue, reducing anxiety and building confidence in diverse learners. Read how they increase inclusivity and how to implement them across disciplinesPopi Sotiriadou , Dani Logan-FlemingGriffith University, Torrens University
Industry engagement matters for doctoral candidates, tooDoctoral candidates have not generally prioritised engagement with industry, but its opportunities to enhance research impact and career prospects now make it essential. Here, Adnan Syed Muhammad offers tips for PhD studentsAdnan Syed MuhammadWestern Sydney University
How a campus garden is tackling declining 3D spatial skills in geoscience students Making geology more tangible can spark curiosity in the field and help students learn the skills needed to address global issues such as climate change, resource management and natural hazards. Kate Pedley walks through an interactive garden Katherine PedleyUniversity of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Interactive orals offer a solution to AI over-reliance in higher educationA scenario-based assessment method that promotes authentic learning can curb over-reliance on AI and build students’ professional communication skills. Here is a guide to interactive oralsPopi Sotiriadou , Dani Logan-FlemingGriffith University, Torrens University
‘Don’t be sorry, just declare it’: safeguarding the integrity of the essayWith the advent of GenAI, higher education has pronounced the essay dead. Benito Cao argues there are signs of life – and explains how to protect its integrityBenito CaoAdelaide University
EDI is meritocracy – why is that hard to understand?Equity, diversity and inclusion is misunderstood when it is seen as valuing identity instead of skill within the systems that determine academic career progression. But it is in the sector’s interest to recognise and support talent, no matter what it looks like, writes Brooke SzücsBrooke SzücsThe University of Queensland
Build workforce capability through smarter university-industry partnershipsUniversities are expected to produce job-ready graduates, but many partnerships with industry remain ad hoc. Building deeper, more deliberate relationships with employers is key to developing stronger regional talent pipelinesGrant RitchieUniversity of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Discussion forums: the key to AI-proof assessment?Providing a supportive learning culture for students will make them less likely to cheat – and discussion forums, with a few tweaks, may be the way to do itEdward PalmerAdelaide University
For EDI efforts to be sustainable, universities must evolve their language and practiceA transactional model can position higher education institutions as performing equity, diversity and inclusion rather than living it, writes Bruce Watson. But that version of EDI will not serve us in the futureBruce WatsonUNSW Sydney
The evolution of student onboardingOn-demand, just-in-time digital onboarding can help students filter the vast array of information they receive when they start university, and set them up for successCory ElfrinkUniversity of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Beyond the buzz: how AI can be a coach, not a competitor, in the university classroomPlacing teaching tasks along a spectrum between AI and human strengths can help university educators make use of the best of both worldsMeena Jha, Michael Cowling, Josiah Koh, Kwong Nui SimCentral Queensland University, RMIT University, Western Sydney University
Easing students into higher education at the shallow endThe culture shock of starting university can be acute for those who left school early or who are returning to study after years in the workforce. Here, Gareth Morgan explains a programme that sets students up for successGareth MorganUniversity of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Engaging and influencing learners in the digital age of higher educationEducators and influencers share a common goal: engagement. So, what strategies can university teachers take from social media platforms that have mastered the art of audience capture?Riley A. Scott, Jaimee StuartThe University of Southern Queensland , United Nations University Institute in Macau
Empowering academics for greater student successStudent success initiatives traditionally focus just on the students. Empowering academics with effective engagement tools opens another pathway for scaling up success Kaylene SampsonUniversity of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
What trauma-informed practice can learn from EDI in higher educationEquity, diversity and inclusion work reminds us that trauma doesn’t occur in a vacuum. Here are insights from EDI that can enrich trauma-informed practiceMaree Martinussen, Sarah O’SheaCharles Sturt University
Campus webinar: How to embed sustainability into the curriculumHear experts discuss how they engage students in climate-conscious learning, build sustainability into course design and connect it to employability and wider social responsibilityEthan Chong Yih Tng , Edson Kieu , Jo-Anne Ferreira, Daniel YontoSingapore Institute of Technology , Nanyang Technological University , The University of Southern Queensland , Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Equality on campus starts in the toiletsWith diversity, equity and inclusion policies under threat, there’s a simple and cost-effective change universities can make for a trans-inclusionary, accessible campusDeanna Grant-Smith , Anne Hewitt , Loki Maelorin, Chisom Ihekwaba Adelaide University, University of the Sunshine Coast
What happens when AI writes the appealAs students increasingly use generative AI to craft assessment appeals, university staff face new challenges in maintaining the integrity of academic feedback. Here’s how we can adapt to preserve meaningful learning relationships in the face of optimisationJonathan BoymalRMIT University
