What innovation needs to thrive in higher educationAdvice on cultivating innovative mindsets across a university, among academics, staff and studentsCampus contributorsCampus
Campus Talks: What lies behind the success – or failure – of international branch campuses?Find out what underpins success when setting up and developing a branch campus overseas and why financial returns are not a good motivation, from an academic who helped establish and later lead one such project Christine Ennew, Miranda PrynneCampus
Pluralistic idealism alone won’t govern the future AI governance is treated as an ethics problem, when it is increasingly a question of control, authority and speed. As AI systems reshape admissions, assessment and student support, universities need to govern what is live, not what looks good on paperAlistair SackleyUniversity of Southampton
Why fixing student problems one by one does not workWhen efforts to improve student satisfaction fall short, the problem is often design rather than speed. İlkay Karaduman reflects on planning a more coherent student journey shaped by key transitions and connectionsİlkay Karaduman Istanbul Aydin University
Why digital accessibility is now a leadership issue for universitiesThe question for university decision-makers is whether to settle for the minimum accessibility required by international regulation or to embed it as a marker of institutional excellence across teaching, research and civic missionAyala Gordon, Sarah LewthwaiteIndependent academic, University of Southampton
Should I become a university administrator?If you are considering a career move into university management, gather insights from this collection on what promotion from faculty to higher education administration entailsCampus contributorsCampus
Making student experience a core part of academic workA student and an academic outline how universities must make student experience an explicit part of academic roles, from workloads to resourcing and recognitionRoma Forbes, Benjamin OngThe University of Queensland
Accompaniment: the key to engaging campus communities in changeTo respond to change, leaders must create solutions with their employees and members of the community, rather than instituting a top-down approach. A Latin American leadership practice could be the answerAnnmarie CañoGonzaga University
Reimagining the student experience using tips from start-up cultureStart-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 needsMelissa Padfield, Sarah WolgemuthUniversity of Alberta
Why university leaders must listen differently in one-to-onesTalk 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 dialogueAnnie OwenUniversity of Southampton
Not faster but fairer: tame ‘techno-solutionism’ to build inclusive futures with AIUniversity 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 AdachiChie AdachiQueen Mary University of London
Campus talks: the role of universities as bastions of free speech and open debate in polarised timesAn 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 polarisationCaroline Mehl, Abhishek Saha Constructive Dialogue Institute, Queen Mary University of London
The dos and don’ts of developing an international network in higher educationInternational 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 healthcareJeremy HowickUniversity of Leicester
The anxieties of non-research faculty at a research universityThe 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 wisdomDaniel M. GrossUniversity of California, Irvine
Faith, freedom and fairness: a balancing act for universitiesCan 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 PeacockUniversity of Cambridge
Embracing superdiversity: a concrete path for universitiesThe 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 BillariFrancesco BillariBocconi University
The great interdisciplinarity illusion – and what to do about itAll too often, modules that claim to be interdisciplinary are really multidisciplinary. Here’s how universities must change thatSimon ScottUniversity of Birmingham
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 HarrisUniversity of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Innovative Research Universities
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 decisionsOlga Ryazanova , Peter McNamara Maynooth University
A free speech checklist for universitiesPractical examples of how universities can promote free speech on campus from Dennis Hayes, the director of Academics for Academic FreedomDennis HayesAcademics for Academic Freedom
Campus interview: Susan Aldridge, president of Thomas Jefferson University, on educating career-ready graduatesThe leader of a US institution discusses how to set students up for future success in uncertain times and why working across disciplines is so powerfulSusan C. AldridgeThomas Jefferson University
Navigating conflicting DEI needs for the benefit of allEquity, 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 tensionsCynthia WilliamsUniversity of Northern British Columbia
Why AI literacy must come before policyWhen 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 setKathryn MacCallum, David ParsonsUniversity of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Taking pedagogy to the provost’s officeThe 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 classroomWilliam J. Owen University of Northern British Columbia
How to protect your university against authoritarianismUS 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 McLaughlinJohns Hopkins University
How universities can move from DEI backlash to breakthroughIdentity 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 LyonsUniversity of British Columbia, York University
For EDI efforts to be sustainable, universities must evolve their language and practiceA 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 futureBruce WatsonUNSW Sydney
‘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 GavinDelta College
Higher education’s bumpy road to net zeroHow universities and academics can ensure rhetoric translates to action on the climate crisisKiera O’Brien, Campus contributorsCampus
Universities must stop tiptoeing around debate – appoint free speech championsAs 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 protectedMark ButterickUniversity of Leeds
The future of liberal arts may belong to the Global SouthWith American universities under threat from a hostile government, where will liberal arts education thrive? Perhaps it’s time for a reimagining Abderrahim AgnaouAl Akhawayn University
Leading a personal development review? Think about GenAI for scholarshipWith 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 scholarshipSteve BriggsUniversity of Bedfordshire
Bring your institutional goals to life with project-based planningProject-based strategic planning transforms the traditional approach by focusing on iterative, measurable actions tied to specific projects, all aligned with broader institutional objectivesCatherine WehlburgAthens State University
Campus talks: actions that make a real difference in the fight against climate changeFrom global finance to the laboratory, hear about two very different ways by which universities can reduce their carbon emissionsEllen Quigley, Jenna Lowe University of Cambridge, University of Liverpool
For an agile future workforce, embed a liberal arts education systemA 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 regionAbderrahim AgnaouAl Akhawayn University
A survival guide for academic department leadersAdministrators 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 legacySaleem H. AliUniversity of Delaware
‘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 HymanUCL
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 collaborationLily Kong, Manuel BarciaSingapore Management University, University of Bath
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 thisDeborah Gill, Simon ToUniversity of Southampton, UCL
Campus talks: how to achieve research excellence – and protect itLearn what contributes to quality research across an institution and how that work should be kept secureMarcus Munafò, Jacqueline LittlewoodThe University of Bristol, University of Alberta
How to create an environment your employees can thrive inCreating a workplace culture your employees can develop and grow in requires intentional leadership. Here’s how to cultivate a nurturing environment and reap the benefitsJudy HolmesColorado State University Global
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 ThompsonThe University of Exeter
Become a better mentor by asking yourself these questionsOur 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 WisdomDuke University
The wintering of universitiesThe 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 NormingtonKatie NormingtonDe Montfort University
Campus talks: the pros and cons of AI in higher educationHow 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 environmentShaolei Ren, José Antonio Bowen, Shushma PatelUniversity of California, Riverside, Bowen Innovation Group, De Montfort University
Market orientation must be an institution-wide endeavourAs higher education becomes increasingly global, universities must adopt a market-orientated philosophy, balancing student needs, national priorities and competitive differentiation, writes Emily OwenEmily OwenTHE Consultancy
Career-connected learning is an investment in the futureA 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 SpicerColorado State University Global
Staying agile is the key to effective HE leadershipChange is inevitable, and higher education leaders must have the agility to keep up. Here is how to go from a reactive to a proactive approachShuri Mariasih Gietty TambunanThe University of Indonesia
Four objectives to guide artificial intelligence’s impact on higher educationHow can higher education leaders manage both the challenge and the opportunity artificial intelligence presents? Here are four objectives to guide the waySusan C. AldridgeThomas Jefferson University
Imagine an age-inclusive university sectorAge 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 missedPaul Harpur, Brooke Szücs, Nancy A. PachanaThe University of Queensland
