Time management

Scheduling, balancing teaching and research, and career progression all require effective time-management skills. Here, academics offer their own experience, techniques and advice.

‘I’ll just clear my inbox first…’

Reframing productivity and defending your diary can transform academic output. Here are tips for protecting your writing time

Multiple authors

The University of Southern Queensland

A book with heart-shaped pages in front of a stacked bookcase

Has your relationship with your PhD lost its spark?

Make sure you and your PhD aren’t drifting into a toxic relationship. Here’s how to recapture the magic

Lucia Juarez

Independent academic

Peer feedback is the secret weapon for better academic writing

Harness the power of your academic community to hone your arguments, sharpen your writing and develop your critical thinking

Dina Nasr , Rayan Awadalla

Dubai Medical University

‘Prune the tree to let the fruit stand out’

Tips on how to turn your thesis into a book – how to edit yourself, how to pitch and when to use GenAI

Damián Fernández Pedemonte

Universidad Austral

Young man looking stressed as his inbox explodes out of his screen

How to turn your most aggravating student emails into a chance to spread joy

Faced with a flurry of grade complaints at the end of each semester, Danny Oppenheimer found a way to respond that generated positivity for students and himself. Read on to find out what he did

Danny Oppenheimer

Carnegie Mellon University

Top down view of students walking between classes

How to model good academic practice

By modelling good practice in your own teaching, you can help students build confidence, work more effectively and set habits that support both academic and personal success. Here’s how

Natalie K. D. Seedan

The University of the West Indies

A teacher going through a pile of papers

From grading grind to peace of mind: preventing midterm marking meltdown

With clear communication, focused feedback, time management strategies and smart use of technology, educators can make their marking more efficient, sustainable and impactful for students

Daniella Sieukaran

Dalhousie University

Campus talks: how to unlock motivation and beat procrastination in your students and yourself

Two academic researchers and lecturers discuss the many factors that boost short- and long-term motivation and how to get yourself started when procrastination threatens

Ian Taylor, Helena Seli

Loughborough University, University of Southern California

A life ring flotation device being thrown in the air against a backdrop of column-flanked neoclassical building

An academic’s survival guide

Academia offers rich rewards but these sit alongside job insecurity, spiralling workloads and repeated rejection. This survival guide explores how scholars can navigate key challenges in order to find fulfilment in their academic careers

Laura Duckett, Campus contributors

Campus

Managing upwards in higher education, part 2: relational and personal boundary skills

The second in a two-part series focuses on protecting your integrity, building goodwill across your institution and setting boundaries around your time and availability to create sustainable, constructive relationships with your manager

Tom Chapman

University of Southampton

A pair of hands scroll social media on a smartphone

Harness the powers of social media for learning

Replace mindless scrolling with little moments of learning by curating your social media feed. Here’s how

Norlin Nosbi, Nurul Azhani Yunus, Abdul Rahim Othman, Mazian Mohammad

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

How to run a bursary scheme for your students with no admin support

How one lecturer launched and ran a career development bursary with no administrative support, using digital tools and smart workflows to keep the process efficient and effective

W. Victoria Lee

The University of Edinburgh

Is the tick-box structure of promotion preventing true collaboration?

Academics can be so focused on the hoops they have to jump through on the path to success, they forgo opportunities for genuine collaboration. Perhaps it’s time for a shift in mindset, writes Nick Quinn

Nick Quinn

University of Glasgow

Campus talks: how to look after yourself in higher education

Personal insights from a range of higher education voices on how they preserve their own well-being

Multiple authors

Campus

Preparing for a research-active career during your PhD

How can you balance the demands of your PhD thesis with publishing other work to support your academic career goals? This article offers practical strategies for managing both

Anjan Pal

University of York

A close up of a hand working on a document

Seven steps to dual publication

The dual publication model for research involves creating two versions of a research paper: one for fellow academics, and one for practitioners. Juggle the two with these seven steps

Şerife Eyüpoğlu

Near East University

The case for rewarding hard work in higher education

Taking a cue from copyright’s ‘sweat of the brow’, Ian Solway and Shan Wang argue that recognition of effort and resilience should not be lost in a rush to maximise learning efficiency

Shan Wang, Ian Solway

University of Southampton

Will AI revolutionise marking?

Artificial intelligence has the potential to improve speed, consistency and detail in feedback for educators grading students’ assignments, writes Rohim Mohammed. Here he lists the pros and cons based on his experience

Rohim Mohammed

University College Birmingham

A human and robot hand typing on a laptop

Reduce your teaching admin burden with AI

How university teachers can use AI to respond to student enquiries, provide feedback and create engaging learning content

Shahper Richter, Inna Piven, Patrick Dodd

The University of Auckland

Time to write is a necessity, not a nice-to-have

How a project for academics to carve out writing time has grown from ‘power hours’ to writing retreats, community, increased well-being and higher-quality papers

Rosie Wadman, Jess Macpherson

University of Southampton

Smiling Chinese college tutor at whiteboard

Setting boundaries for teachers’ well-being

Practising self-care and saying no can help university educators manage the increasing demands of teaching and find a sustainable work-life balance

Cheong Fan

Macau University of Science and Technology

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

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

Plant the seeds for a rewarding balance between family and academia

Balancing the demands of family life and higher education can feel as daunting as starting a garden from scratch. But with careful planning, consistent care and the right tools, you can cultivate a thriving environment where both areas of your life flourish

John Sinclair

Colorado State University Global

A son hugs his mother as she works at a laptop

What universities can do to help academics with caring responsibilities

Higher education institutions can help their employees balance the demands of family responsibilities with work – here’s how

Ambreen Ansar

Dubai Medical University

A man with a baby in a sling checks his laptop while drinking coffee

The art of balance: tips for primary carers in higher education

The dual role of primary caregivers and higher education professional is a delicate balancing act. Here are some strategies for juggling two very demanding endeavours

Monika Shukla

Singapore Institute of Technology

Robot with people rolling coins, AI subscription

Is it worth paying for GenAI?

How useful is artificial intelligence for syllabus design? A law lecturer compared the free and subscription versions of three generative AI platforms, with surprising results

Sophia De Arez Cintra

King’s College London

Bridging the communication gap between administrators and faculty

Academics who understand the needs and priorities of administrative staff will work more effectively – and vice versa. Everybody wins, writes Catherine Léglu

Catherine Léglu

University of Luxembourg

A woman waves to others over a video call

Master the art of online and in-person interviewing

Interviewing experts is a key part of scientific research, so it’s important to hone your skills. Mahra Haitham Al Hosani and Mariam Shadan provide eight tips – and three things to avoid

Mahra Haitham Al Hosani, Mariam Shadan

Dubai Medical University

Two sun loungers sit on white sand, shaded by a yellow beach umbrella

Get your PhD thesis beach ready

Prepping for the beach requires planning, effort and time management – and so does writing a PhD thesis. John Sinclair offers advice for summer days and doctoral nights

John Sinclair

Colorado State University Global

A woman takes notes from an open textbook

How to navigate the PhD thesis

The PhD thesis may be a mountain to climb, but you can take it one step at a time. Luis R Rojas-Solórzano offers his guidance

Luis R. Rojas-Solórzano

Nazarbayev University

A pin stuck in a calendar on a date that reads: "Write your thesis!"

One thesis, two supports, three months

Completing a thesis within 12 weeks may seem impossible, but by combining AI and your supervisor’s expertise, it can be done. Mariam Shadan shows how

Mariam Shadan

Dubai Medical University

An illustration of a man watering a plant growing from his head

How to develop a researcher mindset as a PhD student

Entering the postgraduate sphere is a whole new ball game. Shaif Uddin Ahammed shows how to hone a PhD mindset

Shaif Uddin Ahammed

University of the West of Scotland

The secrets to success as a provost

What does this multifaceted job entail and what qualities do you need to do it well? Steve McLaughlin decodes one of higher education’s most mysterious roles

Steven W. McLaughlin

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

A group of researchers discusses a prototype

How to balance teaching and research

As an early-career academic, how can you juggle teaching and researching while also prioritising self-care? Callum Russell shares his reflections on striking a balance

Callum Russell

University of the West of Scotland

A manager high-fives a member of staff around a meeting room table

Six tips for when you’re moving up into university management

Making the leap into academic administration can feel daunting, but Yağmur Çerkez’s advice will help you to develop the skills and strategies you need to thrive

Yağmur Çerkez

Near East University

A glowing tool icon is generated from a tablet by a woman in the background

Use technology to boost productivity and beat burnout

Ayşe Hyusein advises using a range of techniques and tools for more effective time management

Ayşe Hyusein

Near East University

Conference presentations 101: master the art of speaking to an audience

Don’t get stage fright when it comes to presenting your research. Ayten Ordu offers her tips for preparing for speaking success

Ayten Ordu

Near East University

A hand uses a laptop trackpad as candles burn in the background

Protect your emotional well-being for a happier writing experience

Writing academic papers can be a long and emotional journey. Burcu Totur Dikmen offers her tips for emotional well-being

Burcu Totur Dikmen

Near East University

Eight ways to improve your digital well-being

To counteract the detrimental consequences of excessive screen time and digital overload, we must take a thoughtful and balanced approach, writes Nisha P. Shetty

Nisha P. Shetty

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

It can be different: managing time, tasks and well-being in academia

Academic careers are often associated with long hours, overwhelming workload and burnout – but it doesn’t have to be that way. Understanding the nature of knowledge work can help, says Katrina McChesney

Katrina McChesney

University of Waikato

How to survive the academic treadmill

When working hours are stretched to cover marking, induction and other tasks, what is a busy scholar to do? Here, James Derounian offers suggestions for taking essential downtime

James Derounian

University of Bolton

Five ways to beat the procrastination monster

Writing and procrastination often go together like pen and paper, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here, Glenn Fosbraey offers strategies to stop putting off putting words on the page

Glenn Fosbraey

University of Winchester

A tray with a jar of bath salts, lilies and towels sits on the edge of a candelit bathtub

Let’s prioritise self-care for the benefit of everyone

Self-care can make us better at our jobs, support our students more effectively and help to build a better community across academia. Karina Dancza offers her tips on how to implement self-care in your professional life

Karina Dancza

Singapore Institute of Technology

How to engage your staff in just 15 minutes

You need to get updates and other messages to faculty and staff, but they don’t have much time for internal communications. Here, Kelly Hibbs offers tips to reach a busy audience in a quick, engaging, accessible way

Kelly Hibbs

University of Southampton

Advice for university staff on working successfully with HR

How can faculty ensure that all the touch points they have with human resources within their employee lifecycle are efficient, transparent and the best experience they can be?

Lisa Smith

University of Southampton

Childcare remains a barrier for too many learners. Here’s how institutions can help

Universities can design programmes that meet student-parents where they are with their childcare needs. Here, Joanitt Montano and Chike Aguh outline three ways

Joanitt Montano , Chike Aguh

College of Health Care Professions, Harvard University

How to coach in-employment lifelong learners for success

A team from Singapore Institute of Technology offers insights from working with in-employment learners who are seeking to upskill by studying for degrees

Chow Peck Chee , Julian Matius , May Lim

Singapore Institute of Technology

Timeline and calendar for project management

How to use a project management approach to help run research projects

Jon Gunnell explains how to adopt the PRINCE2 project management method to help overcome the many challenges of running a multi-year research project

Jon Gunnell

University of Sheffield

How to win at the part-time ‘game’ in academia

Higher education might be more accommodating of part-time employment than many private sector organisations, but working part-time comes with challenges. So how can you make a success of part-time working in academia?

Multiple authors

The University of Bristol, University of Bedfordshire, Bath Spa University, Women Space

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