University leadership

Happy multiracial group of college students

Reimagining the student experience using tips from start-up culture

Start-up principles such as rapid iteration, co-creation and agile teamwork can be used to transform the student experience, enabling faster, more effective responses to evolving student needs

Melissa Padfield, Sarah Wolgemuth

University of Alberta

Young female manager in a meeting

Why university leaders must listen differently in one-to-ones

Talk less and listen more should be a mantra for leaders and managers. When they acknowledge diverse perspectives, avoid dominating discussions and reflect what they have heard, it sets the tone for more inclusive, respectful dialogue

Annie Owen

University of Southampton

Human embracing AI in a handshake

Not faster but fairer: tame ‘techno-solutionism’ to build inclusive futures with AI

University leaders and academics must resist an open-armed embrace of AI and ask tough questions about who, really, is benefitting from its use in order to shape an inclusive future, writes Chie Adachi

Chie Adachi

Queen Mary University of London

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Campus talks: the role of universities as bastions of free speech and open debate in polarised times

An expert in constructive dialogue and a free speech campaigner explain how universities can nurture productive disagreement and uphold the principles of free speech and academic freedom in the face of growing polarisation

Caroline Mehl, Abhishek Saha

Constructive Dialogue Institute, Queen Mary University of London

International group of people meeting

The dos and don’ts of developing an international network in higher education

International collaborations sound impressive on paper – but most fail to move beyond initial enthusiasm and a signed memorandum of understanding. Jeremy Howick shares lessons from building a global network focused on empathy in healthcare

Jeremy Howick

University of Leicester

Female college teacher in class

The anxieties of non-research faculty at a research university

The worth of know-how – as opposed to know-that – is enhanced when instructors are full-time, eligible for tenure and materially supported in their collective endeavour. Here, Daniel M. Gross makes the case for valuing teachers’ collective wisdom

Daniel M. Gross

University of California, Irvine

Students in discussion

Faith, freedom and fairness: a balancing act for universities

Can UK universities protect the right for students to voice difficult views while ensuring that no student feels that their opinions or beliefs make them a target for prejudice?

Lucy Peacock

University of Cambridge

Multiracial group of university graduands

Embracing superdiversity: a concrete path for universities

The richness of an academic community lies in connecting people of different backgrounds, approaches and perspectives. But this does not happen by chance; it requires intentionality, vision and daily commitment, writes Francesco Billari

Francesco Billari

Bocconi University

Students working on a project together in class

The great interdisciplinarity illusion – and what to do about it

All too often, modules that claim to be interdisciplinary are really multidisciplinary. Here’s how universities must change that

Simon Scott

University of Birmingham

Young female research scientist

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 Harris

University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Innovative Research Universities

A hiring panel interviewing a candidate at a table

Beyond gut feeling: what should academic hiring panels consider?

Academic hiring often relies on gut feeling and bias. Olga Ryazanova and Peter McNamara show how evidence on early-career choices and research records can help panels make fairer, more informed decisions

Olga Ryazanova , Peter McNamara

Maynooth University

A man with tape on his mouth

A free speech checklist for universities

Practical examples of how universities can promote free speech on campus from Dennis Hayes, the director of Academics for Academic Freedom

Dennis Hayes

Academics for Academic Freedom

Susan C. Aldridge, president of Thomas Jefferson University, speaks to Campus editor Miranda Prynne

Campus interview: Susan Aldridge, president of Thomas Jefferson University, on educating career-ready graduates

The leader of a US institution discusses how to set students up for future success in uncertain times and why working across disciplines is so powerful

Susan C. Aldridge

Thomas Jefferson University

Symbol for gender-neutral toilet

Navigating conflicting DEI needs for the benefit of all

Equity, diversity and inclusion work is complicated when one group’s rights to dignity and privacy challenge another’s sense of comfort and security. Here, Cynthia Williams offers strategies to address these tensions

Cynthia Williams

University of Northern British Columbia

Building blocks for AI policy

Why AI literacy must come before policy

When 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 set

Kathryn MacCallum, David Parsons

University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

Steps from teaching to leadership

Taking pedagogy to the provost’s office

The skills that make effective teachers – adaptability, empathy, presence and reflection – also shape impactful university leaders. Here, Bill Owen shares leadership lessons he learned in the classroom

William J. Owen

University of Northern British Columbia

A woman holds a megaphone at a protest

How to protect your university against authoritarianism

US institutions are facing threats to academic freedom from the Trump administration, yet they must also stay vigilant to authoritarianism from abroad. Here is what university leaders and academics can do

Sarah McLaughlin

Johns Hopkins University

Identity threat concept

How universities can move from DEI backlash to breakthrough

Identity threat – when individuals or groups feel devalued – can undermine equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives. But if universities reframe this conflict, it can result in growth and new perspectives, write Camellia Bryan and Brent Lyons

Camellia Bryan, Brent Lyons

University of British Columbia, York University

intersection speech bubbles, inclusive language

For EDI efforts to be sustainable, universities must evolve their language and practice

A 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 future

Bruce Watson

UNSW Sydney

Hands clasp in a circle

‘There is no workaround to this moment – we are all targets’

The attacks on DEI and academic freedom show higher education needs to come together, build collaborations and stand firm. Here’s how

Mike Gavin

Delta College

Higher education's bumpy road to net zero

Higher education’s bumpy road to net zero

How universities and academics can ensure rhetoric translates to action on the climate crisis

Kiera O’Brien, Campus contributors

Campus

Speech bubbles being held above unseen person's head

Universities must stop tiptoeing around debate – appoint free speech champions

As new legal duties on free speech come into force, Mark Butterick argues that universities must move beyond token policies and foster a culture where open debate is genuinely protected

Mark Butterick

University of Leeds

An illustration of a mortarbord balanced on a globe

The future of liberal arts may belong to the Global South

With American universities under threat from a hostile government, where will liberal arts education thrive? Perhaps it’s time for a reimagining

Abderrahim Agnaou

Al Akhawayn University

An illustration of a robot soaring upwards on an arrow

Leading a personal development review? Think about GenAI for scholarship

With personal development reviews taking place over the summer, perhaps this is the moment to focus on how teaching and learning practitioners are using GenAI for efficiency in terms of scholarship

Steve Briggs

University of Bedfordshire

Top down view of colleagues sat around a table planning

Bring your institutional goals to life with project-based planning

Project-based strategic planning transforms the traditional approach by focusing on iterative, measurable actions tied to specific projects, all aligned with broader institutional objectives

Catherine Wehlburg

Athens State University

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Campus talks: actions that make a real difference in the fight against climate change

From global finance to the laboratory, hear about two very different ways by which universities can reduce their carbon emissions

Ellen Quigley, Jenna Lowe

University of Cambridge, University of Liverpool

A group of students laugh together

For an agile future workforce, embed a liberal arts education system

A liberal arts education can help foster the adaptability and critical thinking skills today’s employers are looking for. Here’s how to adapt the model to your region

Abderrahim Agnaou

Al Akhawayn University

Staff meeting

A survival guide for academic department leaders

Administrators walk a line between support for faculty and accountability for performance, writes Saleem H. Ali. Here, he offers six tips for building good governance and legacy

Saleem H. Ali

University of Delaware

Candles

‘Departmental orthodoxies silence dissent and chill scholarly enquiry’

Universities have not handled ongoing challenges around free speech, protest, academic freedom and safety well, writes John Hyman. Here he offers short- and long-term actions to promote secure, pluralistic campuses

John Hyman

UCL

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Campus talks: why internationalisation must remain a cornerstone of higher education

Hear academic leaders in the UK and Singapore discuss what is needed for effective cross-border collaboration

Lily Kong, Manuel Barcia

Singapore Management University, University of Bath

Students speaking at a meeting.

Principles and practicalities of partnership working with students

For effective co-creation with students, university leaders need to move beyond surveys and get them involved in decision-making. The Russell Group institutions together set out best practice steps for doing this

Deborah Gill, Simon To

University of Southampton, UCL

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Campus talks: 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

A gardener prunes flowers

How to create an environment your employees can thrive in

Creating a workplace culture your employees can develop and grow in requires intentional leadership. Here’s how to cultivate a nurturing environment and reap the benefits

Judy Holmes

Colorado State University Global

Circle of connected coloured ropes

Is a ‘co-opetition’ model the way to safeguard higher education for future generations?

Shared support functions don’t mean the end of competition among institutions, writes Mark Thompson. Instead, collective thinking could focus effort on universities’ strengths and potentially rescue the sector from ‘an unsustainable race to the bottom’

Mark Thompson

The University of Exeter

A mentor having a meeting with her mentee

Become a better mentor by asking yourself these questions

Our mentees face a far more complex educational, social and geopolitical landscape than we did, and we must practise humility in the face of that reality, writes Maria LaMonaca Wisdom. In this piece, she explores how self-reflection enhances effective mentorship.

Maria LaMonaca Wisdom

Duke University

Frosty footprints in grass

The wintering of universities

The fallow moments of retreat are necessary to bring about spring. For universities, we must use this winter to think about what it is we do, writes Katie Normington

Katie Normington

De Montfort University

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Campus talks: the pros and cons of AI in higher education

How should universities manage the rapid uptake of artificial intelligence across all aspects of higher education? We talk to three experts about AI’s impact on teaching, governance and the environment

Shaolei Ren, José Antonio Bowen, Shushma Patel

University of California, Riverside, Bowen Innovation Group, De Montfort University

Students celebrating graduation

Market orientation must be an institution-wide endeavour

As higher education becomes increasingly global, universities must adopt a market-orientated philosophy, balancing student needs, national priorities and competitive differentiation, writes Emily Owen

Emily Owen

THE Consultancy

An illustration of a pile of books linking to a crowd of businesspeople

Career-connected learning is an investment in the future

A strong reputation for career-connected learning can create a seamless circle for universities, with graduates happy to pave the way for others via the alumni network. But how to get started?

Audra Spicer

Colorado State University Global

A hand holding a post-it note with the word "agile" written on it

Staying agile is the key to effective HE leadership

Change is inevitable, and higher education leaders must have the agility to keep up. Here is how to go from a reactive to a proactive approach

Shuri Mariasih Gietty Tambunan

The University of Indonesia

A image of a robot wearing a mortarboard

Four objectives to guide artificial intelligence’s impact on higher education

How can higher education leaders manage both the challenge and the opportunity artificial intelligence presents? Here are four objectives to guide the way

Susan C. Aldridge

Thomas Jefferson University

Female mature age student at graduation

Imagine an age-inclusive university sector

Age inclusion should be part of universities’ mission, as well as their day-to-day operations. To not support staff and students at all stages of their academic life is an opportunity missed

Paul Harpur, Brooke Szücs, Nancy A. Pachana

The University of Queensland

A group mediation session

Setting up an in-house mediation service at your university

Want to prevent conflict escalation? Make mediation a “first resort” option

Carol Platts

The University of Manchester

People laugh round a boardroom table

Six tips when undertaking a curriculum framework review

For a curriculum framework to deliver for both students and educators, it must be regularly updated. Here are six things to remember when embarking on a framework review

Steve Briggs

University of Bedfordshire

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

A computer science studeng coding on her laptop

Opening doors to computer science education

Ways to get more students from under-represented backgrounds into computer science, including offering joint undergraduate degrees and master’s degrees that require no tech background

Beth Mynatt

Northeastern University

Collaboration concept

Joining hands across institutions makes light work

Communities of practice can help overextended faculty and staff maximise programme impact and bandwidth for career practitioners

Karena Nguyen , Paola Cepeda, Anne-Sophie Bohrer, Matthew Warner

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities, Washington University in St Louis, University of Wisconsin–Madison, North Dakota State University

A student typing on their laptop with images representing study and AI superimposed over the top

Promoting ethical and responsible use of GenAI tools

How can we encourage staff and students to use generative AI in ways that do not threaten an institution’s ethics or academic integrity? Read the University of Exeter’s take

Kelly Louise Preece

The University of Exeter

Structure of teepee against blue cloudy sky

Principles of Indigenous leadership and self-care in the academy

Indigenous leadership requires resilience, humility and self-awareness. These 10 principles offer a guide to cultivating wellness and fostering a supportive community

Chris Andersen

University of Alberta

A group of people put their hands together

Five steps to decolonise your university curriculum and pave the way for a better future

How can universities reset their curricula and embrace a range of experiences? Here are five ways to start down the path of decolonisation

Steve Larkin

University of Adelaide