Research excellence

Deep dives into university research practices around the world, including supervision, community engagement, funding and publication

Female college professor helping male student

Only a human will do: when to eschew AI in teaching and research

Artificial intelligence tools have streamlined processes and accelerated innovations – efficiencies not lost on higher education. But at times, we need to prioritise human judgement and involvement, as Qin Zhu explains

Qin Zhu

Virginia Tech

Managers work at their computers

The power of short courses in transforming the workplace

What started out as a business research project into low productivity became a commercially successful short course. Perhaps it’s time to think outside the box and respond to what businesses need

Richard Saundry

The University of Westminster

Two female scientists in a lab

Five ways to start leading research culture change

If you’re concerned that research culture is valuing output over well-being, or prioritising prestige over passion, these tips could help you move towards more supportive and collaborative labs and departments

Annette Bramley, Candy Rowe

N8 Research Partnership, Newcastle University

Smiling woman talking to healthcare professional

Key challenges for patient and public involvement leads

The research team member who leads on PPI must act in the interests of healthcare patients and the public as well as support the needs of the research project. Here is advice for how to succeed in this emerging role

Gary Hickey

University of Southampton

Semiconductor manufacturing concept

The power of international collaborations in the semiconductor field

Semiconductors are essential for modern electronic devices, AI hardware and economic efficiency and growth. How can we catalyse continued progress and innovation in this field? International collaborations are key, as Cindy Yi explains

Yang “Cindy” Yi

Virginia Tech

podcast graphic

THE podcast: how to achieve research excellence – and protect it

Learn what contributes to quality research across an institution and how that work should be kept secure

Marcus Munafò, Jacqueline Littlewood

The University of Bristol, University of Alberta

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

Close-up of silicon die are being extracted from semiconductor wafer

Techniques for designing and managing international collaborations

An effective international initiative can benefit a whole host of stakeholders – universities, industry leaders, students, wider communities. But how do we get to success? Cindy Yi looks at the opportunities and challenges of international collaborations using a real-world example

Yang “Cindy” Yi

Virginia Tech

A lectern with two microphones in front of a crowded audience

How to communicate your research to anyone

Presenting research to a non-academic audience requires a different set of skills compared with speaking to your peers. Follow these techniques to get your point across to the layman

Mats Vermeeren

Loughborough University

Ineffective communication concept

The perils of unheard policy

Effective communication is a core component of successful policymaking. Whether you’re a policy professional or working in communications, how you convey your message can determine whether your ideas thrive or fade

Alistair Sackley

University of Southampton

Two researchers in white coats high five

The university support services that help demonstrate research impact

Library and knowledge transfer services are just two of the institutional resources available to help academics show the impact of their research. Find out which tools to use and when

Tugce Ataci

Université Paris-Est Créteil

A lecturer leads a seminar

Kickstart your educational research journey

Educational research can help elevate your teaching to the next level. Here’s how to get started

Oran Devilly, Kenan Kok Xiao-Feng , Ching Yee Pua, Shermain Puah

Singapore Institute of Technology

PhD supervision

Working in partnership with PhD students to enhance postgraduate research culture

With guidance on the REF 2029 assessment of People, Culture and Environment just published, how might UK universities’ approach to partnership with postgraduate research students demonstrate their engagement with the factors said to enable positive research culture?

Maisha Islam , Fabien Littel, Nandini Das

University of Southampton

Two pieces of a puxxle being pushed together

Each discipline has a part to play

A guide to conducting preliminary research, setting goals and defining each member’s level of input to an interdisciplinary research project

Estu Putri Wilujeng

The University of Indonesia

African colleagues at a conference session

International research needs international research professionals

When researchers in poorer countries are expected to deliver programmes to the exacting standards of funders in the Global North, it makes international collaboration more difficult. Here, Mary Ryan calls for skills development initiatives to align global aspiration and reality

Mary Ryan

University of Glasgow

Middle-aged male patient with female doctor

Evaluating the impact of patient and public involvement in health research

Measuring the impact of involving patients and the public in healthcare research is less about proving that the practice is a ‘good thing’ and more about finding ways to do it better, writes Gary Hickey. Here, he shares eight key considerations

Gary Hickey

University of Southampton

A focus group

How to build a citizen science research culture

Practical advice for building inclusive and innovative research cultures that prepare students for real-world challenges

Aadhi Agilan, Sam O’Keefe, Gareth Bilton

University of Chester

Shelves of books in a library

Streamline the literature review process with these tips

Ways to make the research, reading and referencing processes smooth

Natalie K. D. Seedan

The University of the West Indies

Webinar image

Campus webinar: How to boost the public perception of higher education

Hear how universities can demonstrate the value of their research, teaching and social impact beyond academia, from senior leaders at Campus+ partner institutions in the US and Canada

Steven W. McLaughlin, Nader Jalili , Rahim Somani

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities, SMU Lyle School of Engineering, University of Northern British Columbia

podcast graphic

THE podcast: a brighter future for academic publishing

Hear from two academics who are developing publishing solutions that encourage and underpin quality research practices and improve access to scholarly work

Paul Ayris, Philipp Koellinger

University College London, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

A team work on a research project round a table

The power of participatory podcasts as a research method

Instead of seeing podcasting as an alternative output, producing a series with a group of youth curators helped Abigail Harrison Moore and Lauren Theweneti understand how significant it can be for participatory research

Abigail Harrison Moore, Lauren Theweneti

University of Leeds, Sheffield Hallam University

A teacher mentoring a student

A recipe for effective undergraduate research mentorship

Strategies for giving effective feedback, addressing common challenges and fostering a supportive and productive mentor-student relationship

Jamie Gilbert Mikell

Athens State University

Illustration of scientists passing test tube

Researcher speed-dating: developing strategic collaborations with international partners

From meeting online to forming long-term relationships, researchers’ shared projects can foster stronger international partnerships between universities

Joanna Daaboul

Université de Technologie de Compiègne

podcast graphic

THE podcast: the benefits of citizen science and community-engaged research

Two leading academics explain why everyone benefits when researchers look beyond academia to seek greater understanding and new knowledge alongside the broader public or affected communities

Chris Lintott, Neeli Bendapudi

University of Oxford, Penn State University

Frankenstein's monster

What Frankenstein’s monster can teach researchers about the dark side of ‘impact’

What can a 19th-century novelist tell academics about research ethics? Taking time to see the impact of research on ourselves is a good place to start measuring the social good of scholarly endeavours, writes Jennifer Allsopp

Jennifer Allsopp

University of Birmingham

Two young people high five over a boardroom table

Eight steps to launch a student-led peer-review journal

To help PhD students gain the skills required for publication and improve research literacy, consider an in-house academic journal

Andrew Drybrough, Philip Montgomery

Nazarbayev University

Health researcher and patient

‘Uncertainty is part of co-production’

Flexibility and an open mindset can help health researchers work with healthcare professionals and patients to create better adapted services. Here, Gary Hickey shares ways to navigate through the process

Gary Hickey

University of Southampton

Pile of journals

‘Researchers have a responsibility to publish’

Without publication, advancements in knowledge will be stifled or even halted altogether, writes Walid Saad. Here he explains the many benefits to publishing for established scholars and students alike

Walid Saad

Virginia Tech

Leaking water pipe

The foundations of a successful knowledge transfer partnership

By collaborating with businesses, researchers can apply their expertise to real-world problems with tangible outcomes. Here, academics outline how they established an effective knowledge transfer partnership to reduce water waste

Muhammad Shakir , Jawwad Latif

University of the West of Scotland

podcast graphic

THE podcast: social artist Helen Storey on working on the boundary of fashion and science

The UNHCR’s first designer-in-residence Helen Storey talks about why she has donated her creative archive to the University of the Arts London, and how the arts can help people connect with issues such as climate change and the refugee crisis

Helen Storey

University of the Arts London

Traffic light sequence from green to red

Trying to decide what, where and when to publish research?

It’s a strategic balancing act, writes Walid Saad. While academic researchers often know why it’s important to publish their work, the timing, location and medium can be less evident. These tips are geared to sharing research for maximum effectiveness

Walid Saad

Virginia Tech

A placard at a climate change protest reads "if you change nothing, nothing changes"

On climate change, are universities part of the problem or part of the solution?

As the effects of climate change become increasingly more extreme, fossil fuel interests are preventing transformative change. Where do universities stand?

Jennie C. Stephens

Maynooth University , Northeastern University

Middle Eastern male millennial researcher

A practical guide to writing a literature review

From organising key search terms to checking citations, this video offers simple, practical tips to crafting a literature review that will lay a sound foundation for your academic paper

Bareq Ali Abdulhadi

Al-Mustaqbal University

Clapperboard

Using documentary film to communicate your social research

Film can humanise your research and make it accessible to an audience beyond your field. Here are five key takeaways from our experience of bringing sociology to life

Rosalind Edwards

University of Southampton

Man putting icing on a chocolate cake

‘If you can empower others to build connections, you can help build a thriving collaborative ecosystem’

For university administrators, part of the job is to help researchers do the cool stuff, without getting bogged down or intimidated by the forms, calendars and other paperwork, writes Marvin Washington. Here, he offers tips on how to foster interdisciplinary collaboration

Marvin Washington

University of Alberta

Physical therapist treating patient

Citizen science in biomedical engineering: rewards and challenges

Harnessing citizen science to progress research enriches our findings and leads to innovative solutions to real-world problems. Addressing the potential challenges of working with non-expert volunteers from the start makes for more effective research

Robin Queen

Virginia Tech

A police offer

Influence social change with your research by building relationships

Researchers from Edinburgh Napier University needed to form relationships with a range of people when evaluating Police Scotland’s use of the drug naloxone. Here’s how they did it

Peter Hillen, Inga Heyman

Edinburgh Napier University

Sports science students

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

Detail of laboratory equipment

‘Changing the culture from academic-owned equipment to shared ownership is not easy’

With dedicated research technical professionals alongside equipment investments, universities can foster a culture of equipment sharing. Here, Sarah Bennett explains this key role in resource management

Sarah Bennett

The University of Warwick

A woman in a research lab looking through a microscope

Quality is the best policy in research

How to establish and promote adherence to protocols, ensure accurate and secure data handling and nurture a culture of transparency to improve the quality of research output

Srinivas Mutalik

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

A surgery takes place in an operating theatre

How we used data to reveal the extent of sexual misconduct within the UK surgical workforce

The Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery’s Breaking the Silence report hit the front pages after exposing the extent of sexual harassment among surgical staff, even taking place in operating theatres. Here’s how data were key

Carrie Newlands

University of Surrey

Sustainable research laboratory concept

How can we improve the sustainability of labs?

Small, incremental changes in how laboratories manage consumables and equipment can add up to a substantial reduction in the environmental footprint of research activities

Jenna Lowe

University of Liverpool

An underwater scene

Sharing shipwreck stories to rewrite maritime history

The story of the Gloucester shipwreck was too important to stay submerged. Here’s how academics, museum curators and the discoverers of the Gloucester wreck brought it back to the surface

Claire Jowitt

The University of East Anglia

A Black man has his blood pressure taken

‘You can change the world with a haircut’: engaging communities at risk

With Black and minority ethnic communities disproportionately affected by high blood pressure, academics found innovative ways to reach them. Here’s how to launch a community outreach programme that works

Nicola Thomas

London South Bank University

Illustration of female graduate in palm of robot

Is AI literacy an information skill?

To capitalise on GenAI’s strengths, and understand its limitations, students need to develop their research and critical thinking skills in practical, embedded and subject-specific ways

Emily Dott, Terry Charlton

Newcastle University

Boy receives immunisation from medical professional.

Knowledge exchange as a driver of better health outcomes

A model for how universities can collaborate with public or private sector organisations and community groups to co-develop solutions to local problems

Amina Ismail , Vicki Doyle

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Hands holding together a jigsaw depicting the Earth

Equitable international research collaboration is possible – find out how

Lessons on building a successful international research collaboration founded on trust and respect between partners

Manuel Barcia

University of Leeds

Plastic pollution concept

The art of change: using creative research methods to solve the plastics crisis

Incorporating theatre, music and the visual arts as research tools complements analytical and qualitative approaches to environmental challenges – and goes beyond public engagement into local and global policymaking

Cressida Bowyer

The University of Portsmouth

A wheelchair basketball player

Address the lack of research in Para sport by embedding students in doctoral programmes

The Embedded Scientist Approach places doctoral students in Para sport-focused research programmes. Vicky Goosey-Tolfrey explores the lessons she learned from implementing it

Vicky Goosey-Tolfrey

Loughborough University

Members of the Network for Persons Affected by NTDs in Liberia.

Lessons for co-producing research with affected communities

Advice on meaningfully engaging with diverse communities to co-produce research, drawn from a project looking at treatment for neglected tropical diseases in Liberia

Rosalind McCollum

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine