Practical learning

Reflection and advice for hands-on university teaching practice – from online lab work to work placements and real-world experience.

A student wears headphones while on a Zoom call

Why mattering matters in practice education and leadership placements

Make students feel they matter in non-clinical facing placements to create the authentic and compassionate leaders the healthcare sector of the future needs. Here’s how

Helen Carr

Canterbury Christ Church University

A logistics student working at her laptop

Active, applied and authentic learning: a model that builds skills and agency

Learn how the AAA model improved student engagement and learning outcomes in a logistics and supply chain programme, and how its principles apply across disciplines

Irfan Ul Haq , Hung Nguyen

RMIT University Vietnam

Two employees consider a screen filled with data

Let’s give students the skills to succeed in multiple careers, not just one job

The future is unpredictable. So instead of trying to future-proof our students’ degrees, let’s future-proof their mindset

Deborah Bartlett

Al Akhawayn University

How combining VR with cultural identity can make interdisciplinary learning more impactful

A project that involved students designing human settlements on the Moon shows how combining cultural identity with VR technology can unite learners across disciplines and campuses to imagine and shape the future

Rubén Vázquez, Antonio Juárez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Young female Asian university student in white coat

Using design-thinking to train the next generation of engineers

A ‘triple helix’ teaching approach shows how engineering educators can combine theoretical rigour with practical problem-solving to prepare students to innovate in the real world. Here, Chen Xiaodong explains how it evolved

Chen Xiaodong

Nanyang Technological University

What on-the-job training looks like in the classroom for MBA students

Examples of authentic assessment methods for MBA students that align academic goals with dynamic real-world demands and equip students with job-ready skills

Harini K N

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Young woman surrounded by light bulbs, creative concept

‘Creative students need environments where risk feels possible, not paralysing’

Creative students are often encouraged to be bold and brave, but it’s hard when doubt, perfectionism and fear of judgement cloud their minds. David Thompson explores what educators can do to help them reconnect with curiosity and play

David Thompson

University of Lincoln

Students working on a research project with staff

Two ways to teach undergraduate students research skills

How to ensure students are treated as partners in research collaborations and help them develop the skills they need for further study and beyond

Louise Hewitt

University of Greenwich

A group of students on their laptops in the library

Digital humanities 101

What makes ‘digital humanities’ different from ‘traditional humanities’, and how could it make your classroom more collaborative and creative?

Sarah Ketchley

University of Washington, University of Maryland Global Campus

A student leaping from the exam hall into the real world

The evolution of authentic assessment in higher education

Practical advice on assessing students’ skills and application of learning in real-world, professional contexts

Campus contributors

Campus

Students sitting around a table with a teacher at the front

How to get students interested in interdisciplinary work

Providing real-world opportunities, incentives and spaces for interdisciplinary work enables undergraduate students to explore important solutions to complex issues

Sambit Dash

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Improving assessments through industry collaboration

How to build and maintain industry relationships and coordinate effective project-based assessments for MBA students

Maninder Singh

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Three alternative assessments that build managerial skills

Personal development discussions, presentations and peer coaching help build essential communication skills and emotional intelligence. These tips will make them effective

Michelle Civile, Alison Sydenham, Julie Pepper

The University of Exeter

Tips for designing interprofessional education courses in healthcare

Adapting to and collaborating with other professionals is essential in medicine. Here’s how to nurture an interdisciplinary mindset from the very start

Hajer N. Sheikh, Umamah Rehman

Dubai Medical University

A jumble of everyday objects, including a calculator

Use everyday objects to educate student teachers

By using simple, familiar items and fostering open dialogue, we can encourage critical reflection in our students, transforming traditional teaching models into more inclusive learning experiences

Daniel Gutiérrez-Ujaque

University of Lleida

A student giving a presentation in class

Engaging students through poster presentations: a case study

Read about how a poster presentation task can promote students’ engagement with course content and each other

Qingyang Sun

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

GenAI can help literature students think more critically

Is ChatGPT destroying critical thinking, or is it allowing us to reconsider how we teach it? This resource explores some ways to empower literature students to use it to deepen their understanding

Shuri Mariasih Gietty Tambunan

The University of Indonesia

Preparing school leaders to solve problems and make a difference

Aspiring K-12 educational leaders need professional training that gives them flexibility, decision-making skills and cultural awareness. Here’s how a ‘problem of practice’ approach embeds real-world issues into assessment

Shana Matamala

University of La Verne

Ways to make your educational videos engaging

The power of video content to engage an audience is widely known, but not guaranteed. Here are 15 principles to bear in mind

FA Triatmoko HS

The University of Indonesia

How I pioneered a graduate apprenticeship programme in architectural technology

Launching a graduate apprenticeship programme has provided an alternative route to graduate-level education for mature, female and employed students. Here’s how to do it

Suha Jaradat

Edinburgh Napier University

Implementing a ‘research buddy’ scheme

A novel volunteer programme has been giving students hands-on sports research experience and maintaining high standards of health safety. Here’s how it works

Sally Carter

Loughborough University

Technical staff who support student learning deserve more professional recognition

Technical staff who deliver student-focused learning deserve more professional opportunities. Jodie Chatfield and Lindsay Davies explain how to provide tailored activities to increase awareness of and engagement with technical roles

Jodie Chatfield , Lindsay Davies

University of Nottingham, UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy

Income should not determine outcomes for young musicians

If we accept the view that music education is only for the rich, it makes us complicit in stifling the life choices of talented artists, writes Jennie Henley

Jennie Henley

Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM)

A group of business students working together on a project

Best practice in building business clinics

Collective advice on setting up and running a successful business clinic from experts in entrepreneurship education around the world

Track Dinning

Liverpool John Moores University

Students sitting at their desks in class while a teacher speaks

Teach research methodology using these low-prep exercises

Use these engaging exercises to gently introduce your undergraduate students to research methods

Adrian Man-Ho Lam

The University of Hong Kong

Partnership work as a catalyst for upskilling in key employment sectors

An example of how a business school can partner with public sector and industry bodies to develop products and services that help upskill and support practice-based education

Mike Brownsell , Kirstie Simpson

University of Chester

Students sitting in a business placement meeting

A good practice guide for student business placements

Advice for university educators on setting up projects in which students work directly with external partners such as local businesses, based on a pilot initiative

Marek Hornak

University of Staffordshire

Question marks against a yellow background

Let students know they don’t know

Overconfidence often prevents students from being able to identify areas of weakness. As teachers, we must help them realise what they are

Tony So

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

A hand holds out a compass in front of a divided path

Let’s equip the next generation of business leaders with an ethical compass

In an AI-focused world, how can MBA programmes shape the students of today into the compassionate leaders of tomorrow?

Ana Côrte-Real

Porto Business School

Students in a class look at their phones

Transform digital pedagogy with social media

In order to ready the classroom for the digital age, integrate social media platforms into your teaching. Here’s how to do it

Mehmet Demir

University of Birmingham

How Indian universities can address the country’s talent crisis

Higher education’s role in preparing students for real-world jobs includes forging strong industry partnerships, establishing pathways into apprenticeships and fostering creativity

Raul Villamarin Rodriguez, Hemachandran K

Woxsen University

Learning translational medicine can make doctors more effective

As doctors must apply the latest scientific results in daily practice as soon as possible, it follows that translation methodologies should be taught to medical students

Péter Hegyi

Semmelweis University

Active learning: what can we learn from secondary teaching?

A great deal of teaching in higher education appears to be inactive, despite the proven benefits of active learning. Here are some practical active learning strategies

Sarah Shaw

University of Chester

Student outside holding a notepad while thinking deeply

Want to increase student satisfaction? Activate higher-order thinking skills

Activating students’ higher-order thinking skills enhances student satisfaction, research shows. Here are some examples of ways to do it

Irina Shcheglova

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Students working together on a project in class

Three ways to promote critical engagement with GenAI

However much we fear AI's impact or despise its outputs, when teaching humanities, the best response is to encourage students to engage with it critically

Neville Morley

The University of Exeter

Students creating a mindmap on a whiteboard

The humble whiteboard: the most flexible learning tool in your classroom

The whiteboard serves as a powerful tool to help students visualise concepts, facilitate group work and provide immediate feedback, aligning with the theory that knowledge is built through active, hands-on experiences

Alan Meek

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Service and creative practice as a university administrator

Why give up or reduce teaching responsibilities to enter an administrative role? Jim Bassett took on the position of director for simple but meaningful reasons: deepening the level of service to students and colleagues and extending creative practice

Jim Bassett

Virginia Tech

What work-based learners need from sustainability education

Flexible course design, reasonable time commitments and real-life practice are vital if universities expect to train the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs in sustainable development

Jonathan Muir

University of Leeds

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

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

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

Balancing career readiness and finances: the case for abbreviated internships

Internships give students professional experience, guide career choices and boost job market competitiveness. But what if students need higher-paying summer jobs or can’t afford three months in a far-flung city? That’s where abbreviated winter internships come in

Margarita McGrath

Virginia Tech

A group of people laugh over a sheet of paper in a well-lit office

Three tips for using capstone projects to improve employability

How can we make sure our students are workplace-ready? Capstone projects may hold the key, writes Ardy Cheung

Ardy Cheung

The London School of Economics and Political Science

An inter-university and interdisciplinary approach to dental education

A degree course that blends engineering and dentistry prepares students for their future practice. Here, Szandra Kormendi and Peter Hermann explain how it works

Péter Hermann, Szandra Körmendi

Semmelweis University

Hybrid learning through podcasts: a practical approach

Adapting practice-based learning to a blend of synchronous and asynchronous delivery gives learners more control and creates opportunities for real-world learning of skills such as podcast production, writes Catherine Chambers

Catherine Chambers

Keele University

A young woman in a hard hat checks inventory on a tablet

Tips for successful apprenticeships courses

Learn how to please both the learner and employer when setting up and running apprenticeships, from a team who recently earned a 'Good' from Ofsted for their efforts

Steven Hurst

Arden University

Improve data literacy among doctoral students

In this resource, Vasudha Devi shows how to use a holistic approach to instil data literacy among doctoral students

Vasudha Devi

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Food bank workers packing up the produce

Using experiential learning to teach international relations

Using his experience as a case study, Adrian Man-Ho Lam outlines how to use experiential learning to improve students’ understanding of humanitarian intervention

Adrian Man-Ho Lam

The University of Hong Kong

How to incorporate fintech and Web3 into university curricula

In bringing financial technology and cryptocurrency into university courses, educators must cover regulatory uncertainty, cybercrime risks and asset bubbles while keeping up with developments. Larisa Yarovaya provides insights

Larisa Yarovaya

University of Southampton

Real-world experiences can help your creative arts students create real-world change

Integrating real-world experiences into creative industries programmes can create truly meaningful results – for both the students and the wider community. Clare Duffin outlines how

Clare Duffin

University of the West of Scotland

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