Student engagement

Academics and university staff address what student engagement means to them and offer advice on boosting attendance, class participation and building a campus community.

Yes, and… Using improv to build students’ confidence in the classroom

Through exercises borrowed from improvisational theatre, students can use imaginative thinking and creative problem-solving, learn to think outside the box and embrace ambiguity, writes Joe Conto. Here, he offers ways to help the post-Covid generation reconnect

Joe Conto

Paul Smith’s College

Student sitting on a sofa with her laptop with a thumbs up

Non-verbal cues: learn how to use them effectively in teacher-student communication

If the end goal is to get students interested in the learning process, these non-verbal cues used in teacher-student communication can enable you to build trust and enhance your impact as a teacher and a communicator, writes Shruthi V. Shetty

Shruthi V Shetty

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

A hand holds a smartphone, generating illustrated speech bubbles

Four ways to cultivate an engaged social media community

When it comes to social media, don’t forget the power of connection. Paul Shannon and Andrew Murray outline four ways to engage with your audience

Paul Shannon, Andrew Murray

University of the West of Scotland

Partner with your students to build belonging on campus

By actively fostering belonging through the strategies outlined in this resource, universities can cultivate a more holistic and supportive environment where all students can thrive, both academically and personally

Tom Ritchie, Adam Alcock

The University of Warwick

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

Students sitting on the steps of a campus building each holding a paper with a letter of the word "change" on it

Combat social injustice burnout in social sciences and humanities courses

Teaching our students about modern-day challenges is imperative if we want a fairer world. However, it can be frustrating and disheartening when we focus on the issues rather than the solutions, writes Paulina Millán Aguilar

Paulina Millán Aguilar

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A screen showing several windows open on different news sites

Spark social justice awareness in the classroom

Exposing your students to a wide range of perspectives on one topic can help develop their social justice awareness. Stone Meredith shows how

Stone Meredith

Colorado State University Global

Moving from individual contributions to team achievements in group projects

Putting the emphasis on a deliberate, reflective approach that emphasises clear goals and active engagement is a better way to prepare students for teamwork in their future careers, write William Owen and Leah Chambers

William J. Owen , Leah Chambers

University of Northern British Columbia

An illustration of a group of people working together

Eight tips for hosting an enterprise hackathon

Want your students to learn outside the lecture block and tackle problems in innovative ways? Kat Mack and Shelini Surendran offer advice on hosting an enterprise hackathon

Shelini Surendran, Kat Mack

University of Surrey

Detail of Michelangelo's Creation of Adam

Why I invite a creationist to my evolutionary biology class

The encounter gives students a chance to apply newly gained knowledge to a real-world situation and, perhaps more importantly, it models productive discussion among people who disagree with one another, writes Curt Stager

Curt Stager

Paul Smith’s College

The pandemic taught me the benefits of flipped homework

In this extract from ‘Online Education During Covid-19 and Beyond’, Olga Amarie shares what she learned about flipped homework while teaching pandemic-era French lessons

Olga Amarie

Georgia Southern University

VR tour of the music centre at the Univrsity of Manchester

How to use 3D scanning technology to create virtual tours for your students

Here is how the University of Manchester is using 3D scanning technology to create virtual reality platforms that can be used in educational settings

Alexandra McGaughrin Cross

The University of Manchester

Encourage civic participation by championing free speech

Instead of shying away from the challenges it presents, let’s embrace free speech as an opportunity for learning, growth and the continuous evolution of our academic spaces, writes Shubha HS

Shubha HS

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

International students holding up flags of their home countries

Eleven ways to support international students who use English as a second language

We must all work to foster a compassionate and encouraging experience for our international student community

Peter O'Rourke

The University of Exeter

Campus talks: the future of XR and immersive learning

Immersive technology expert Monica Arés explains how the combination of artificial intelligence and extended reality in education has the potential to unlock curiosity and learning, the costs that come with these tools and what she thinks teaching technology will look like in 2034

Monica Arés

Imperial College London

Head in the clouds. Student engagement is used almost universally in HE, but no one seems to agree on what it actually means.

What is student engagement?

The move online compounded matters, but even before that, nobody could agree on what student engagement was – and that needs to change, says Chris Headleand

Chris Headleand

University of Lincoln

Engaged female student in lecture raising hand

How to develop cognitive presence in your learning community

In an effective learning community, students feel safe to challenge their own preconceptions and reflect on their progress. Here, Hannah Shaw and Mike Hackman offer quick, effective wins to develop cognitive presence in and beyond the classroom

Hannah Shaw, Mike Hackman

Cardiff University

A group of students chatting in a study area

Using the Snowflake Method to build belonging on campus

To build a sense of belonging, institutions must create a tailored programme to match the needs of their unique demographic and local environment

Sarah Bishop

Teesside University

Student sitting at a desk at the library on his laptop

Student communication: a compassionate approach

Compassionate student communication that ensures engagement is personal and unique to each student could enhance the university experience

James Gray

Kortext

laptop open with headphones and coffee cup

Three approaches to improve your online teaching

When designing online courses and teaching remotely, teachers need to select the framework that supports learning goals. Here, three academics break online learning techniques into their key parts

Antoni Badia , Consuelo García, Julio Meneses

Open University of Catalonia (UOC), Valencian International University

A robot hand dangles a businessman above a wastepaper bin

How your graduates can beat AI in the job market of tomorrow

Your students are facing a competition against a faster, better and cheaper opponent in 2025’s job market – AI. Ioannis Glinavos offers his advice on prepping them for the fight

Ioannis Glinavos

University of Westminster

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

Going for gold: how to craft a winning TEF submission

Teaching excellence rests on clear principles and agile strategy, collaboration with students and a frank approach to educational gain, write Emily Pollinger and Julian Chaudhuri. Here, they share tips for maintaining and evidencing success

Emily Pollinger , Julian Chaudhuri

University of Bath

Campus talks: 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

How to create extracurricular activities students will want to attend

Participation and enthusiasm are the goals of those hard-working volunteers, staff and faculty who organise campus activities and events. Here are 12 tips to boost university student engagement

Martyna Iwanicka

University of Warsaw

Welcome aboard! Tips for building an online community of learners

Building an online learning community can help students form social bonds and boost their motivation, but requires specific efforts to be successful. Karin Avnit and Prasad Iyer show us how

Karin Avnit , Prasad Iyer

Singapore Institute of Technology

Build a framework of support for open and distance learners in three stages

Open and distance learning may offer a way for graduates to separate themselves from the herd, but some struggle with online learning practices. Cheng Yee Ng details how she developed the framework to address these challenges

Cheng Yee Ng

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

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

The University of Auckland

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

Using telepresence to enrich learning

Implementing cutting-edge technology enriches the learning experiences and prepares students for an increasingly interconnected and diverse world

Sidney Ornelas

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Anxious about public speaking? Try these tips from the theatre

Hone your performance skills with these techniques from stage actors. Linsey Todd and James Layton encourage us to smell the greasepaint

Linsey Todd, James Layton

University of the West of Scotland

Two people gesture in front of a board covered in post-its

The dos and don’ts of getting started with service learning

Service learning can have many benefits for students, teachers and the wider community, but starting out can be intimidating. Grace Ngai offers one don’t and three dos to begin your journey

Grace Ngai

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

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

Four ways to weave job skills teaching into the university experience

With research finding a hefty proportion of graduates underemployed, what can higher education do to improve career readiness? Erica Estes and Sean O’Keefe offer advice

Erica Estes, Sean O’Keefe

University of Arkansas, Career Launch

A group of Gen Z students gaze at their phones

We need to empathise with the students of today to shape the minds of tomorrow

Are today’s students too disrespectful and aggressive to be taught? Azlan B. Ahmad offers his advice on dealing with Gen Z

Azlan B. Ahmad

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

Encouraging effective teamwork in the classroom

Setting group assessments is an excellent way of reducing marking, providing more meaningful, considered feedback for students and restoring work-life balance, writes Becky Lewis

Becky Lewis

The University of East Anglia

An illustration of several people talking via online channels

Let’s talk: how to connect with your students in a blended learning environment

Teaching is about connection, and blended learning offers educators the chance to create a dialogue with students. Kyrin Liong and Victor Wang show how

Kyrin Liong, Victor Wang

Singapore Institute of Technology

Humans develop humans

Even small interactions with lecturers, tutors and peers offer opportunities for students to develop interpersonal skills, so it’s important we recognise and value these to ensure they are not lost, writes Marianne Savory

Marianne Savory

Leeds University Business School

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

"To Be or Not to Be" on a pastel-coloured website interface

Swift or Shakespeare? How to reframe internet ephemera as a text in the literature classroom

Teaching Taylor Swift as literature required Clio Doyle and her students to engage with online media as an analytical text. Here, she offers advice on interpreting TikTok, Tumblr and the Buzzfeed quiz

Clio Doyle

Queen Mary University of London

University student in wheelchair in study group

Disability, discrimination and redress: how to guide your students through the process of asking for reasonable adjustments

Students with disabilities are often dependent on the attitude and understanding of their lecturers and support staff. Here is advice on supporting requests for reasonable adjustments in the university environment

Kate Armond

Senior lecturer

Eight ways to teach students about the importance of democracy

Imparting the significance of democracy involves empowering students to acquire relevant knowledge and actively involve themselves in the democratic process

Avinash Dadhich, Anuja S.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Diversity in the classroom as an advantage for learning

Cultural diversity can have practical benefits in the university classroom if we reflect on it from a culture-sensitive perspective, writes Attila Dobos. It can enhance the quality of discussions and lead to a deeper understanding between teacher and students

Attila Dobos

Semmelweis University

The importance of Black spaces in white academia

An epistemological approach is needed to build more inclusive environments, argues Blanca Elizabeth Vega in this excerpt from Black Scholarship in a White Academy

Blanca Elizabeth Vega, Robert T Palmer, Sosanya Jones, Alonzo M Flowers

Montclair State University

A runner starts a race, pushing out from blocks

Sprinting into blocks: what computing, AI and gaming academics learned

Introducing block delivery using Sprint methodology to design academic programmes saw computing, AI and gaming academics rise to the challenge. De Montfort University staff reflect on their experiences

Zoë Allman, Simon Coupland, Archie Khuman, Conor Fahy, Luke Attwood

De Montfort University

A group of people put together a giant jigsaw

Entice students back to the classroom with community quizzes

In this post-pandemic landscape, how can we encourage students to turn up to in-person classes and teach them how to learn together? Mark Lechner believes community quizzes are the key

Mark Lechner

Simon Fraser University

College teacher writing class agenda on blackboard

Changing instructor behaviour to improve learning for university students with ADHD

From making the class agenda clear and visible to building trust with learners, Sarah Sehlinger shares five simple tips that will improve the experience of your college course for students with ADHD

Sarah Sehlinger

Indiana University Southeast

Master the art of effective feedback

Providing constructive feedback gives students a launch pad for development. Ibham Veza and Imran Qureshi offer their advice

Ibham Veza, Imran Qureshi

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

Campus talks: an interview with Kathryn Sikkink, Ryan Family professor of human rights policy at Harvard Kennedy School

Human rights scholar and award-winning author Kathryn Sikkink talks about her work with the Harvard Votes Challenge, how young people are more savvy about misinformation than older generations and why, in this year of elections, democracy needs protection

Kathryn Sikkink

Harvard University

Student on a laptop listening with headphones at home

Use watch parties to enhance learning and build a sense of belonging online

An educator at the University of Manchester explains how using online watch parties with live chatboxes has enhanced students’ learning in a digital environment

Jennifer Mcbride

The University of Manchester

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