Professional insight from Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) demonstrates impact as a global land grant university – progressing sustainability in our community, through the Commonwealth of Virginia, and around the world.

Woman working at laptop

Science isn’t a solo sport – let’s write accordingly

Generosity in authorship, sharing imperfect drafts and writing daily are academic habits that make research clearer, fairer and more impactful

Audrey Ruple

Virginia Tech

Two Asian students in a coffee shop looking at a laptop

How sustained mentoring can drive international students’ success

True integration for international students doesn’t happen during orientation week. It takes place over months and years, through ongoing mentorship, cultural events and year-round academic-career scaffolding

Jennifer Clevenger

Virginia Tech

Young university student in online meeting

Use early engagement to build belonging for international students

Connecting with international students well before they arrive on campus – and maintaining contact across joint and transnational programmes – helps universities to transform anxious newcomers into confident global citizens

Jennifer Clevenger

Virginia Tech

AI ethics and safeguarding concept

Ethical AI: safeguards for the research revolution

Artificial intelligence can accelerate discovery in ways humans alone cannot. For Hongliang Xin, the key is pairing AI’s power with ethical safeguards, institutional governance and responsible oversight

Hongliang Xin

Virginia Tech

AI and human collaboration concept illustration

Harnessing AI to expand scientific discovery

From drug design to climate modelling, artificial intelligence can process data at scales far beyond human capacity. Hongliang Xin argues that the future of research lies in harnessing agentic AI through human-guided discovery

Hongliang Xin

Virginia Tech

Multiracial group of college students

Effective support means meeting university students where they are

Meaningful student support starts in the classroom, the lab and the everyday relationships that faculty build with learners. Carrie Fearer shares practical strategies – from accessibility to co-creation

Carrie Fearer

Virginia Tech

Statue of Cassandra from Greek myth

How universities can cultivate arts and humanities in practical, affordable ways

Are the arts and humanities still needed as universities retrench staff and cut costs? Patty Raun explains why curtailing or eliminating these disciplines is an egregious mistake

Patricia Raun

Virginia Tech

Students in class discussion

Co-creation as an alternative for engaging students

Co-creation through experiential learning outside the classroom space – working abroad, in the field, in a lab – is fantastic but not always feasible. Can’t leave the classroom? Ed Berger explains how educators can still spark engagement

Ed Berger

Virginia Tech

Magnifying glass looking at a brain, illustration

Putting arts and humanities at the heart of research

Disciplines too often are siloed, but today’s most pressing challenges rarely fit neatly into a single field. How do we encourage science and technology fields to work with arts and humanities?

Lisa McNair, Thomas L. Martin

Virginia Tech

Group of four smiling college students walking

A warm welcome is a strategic imperative for higher education

If we want incoming students to flourish, we must stop treating belonging as a bonus and start seeing it as an essential condition for learning. Scott Dunning offers strategies on welcoming students to succeed

Scott Dunning

Virginia Tech

Illustration of music as motivation

Motivating students isn’t magic – it’s music

When students see purpose, believe they can succeed and know educators care, you won’t have to pull them through the course. They’ll walk, maybe even run, on their own. Brett Jones explains how to change their tune

Brett D. Jones

Virginia Tech

Sunset over the Panama Canal

Embracing co-creation through experiential learning

Co-creation cultivates skills and mindsets that traditional classrooms may not be able to provide. For instructors, sharing control with students can result in a richer, more dynamic educational experience for all, writes Ed Berger

Ed Berger

Virginia Tech

Young woman outside Athenian Academy

The case for degrees that teach us how to think

As debate about the cost and purpose of higher education intensifies, the humanities are often the first target. Yet evidence shows that far from being outdated or indulgent, humanities degrees cultivate critical skills, resilience and, yes, viable career paths

Michelle Moseley-Christian

Virginia Tech

Young woman with a drill assembling a wooden bookcase

‘The arts and humanities celebrate what makes us human’

As deepfakes blur truth and political divides widen, the arts and humanities offer essential skills such as reflection and resilience. And, of course, they provide respite and balance. Patty Raun explains

Patricia Raun

Virginia Tech

Illustration of research funding concept

Finding the funding: how to support research projects of any size

How do central research offices operate, and why are they often key to securing research funding? Eleanor Nelsen explains what help is available for researchers, including training and on-demand resources

Eleanor Nelsen

Virginia Tech

Liquid with dollar sign dropping into test tube, research funding

Who cares about this problem as much as you do?

Securing funding requires researchers to think like strategists, storytellers and coalition-builders. Nicole Akers offers advice for navigating the demanding process to win grants and turn ideas into impact

Nicole Akers

Virginia Tech

Multicultural people in an online meeting

Global learning: an emerging transferable skill for students

Teamwork, effective communication – these are what we think of as soft skills. But what about global learning and collaboration? Tiffany Shoop argues that global collaboration is a foundational skill for the modern world

Tiffany Shoop

Virginia Tech

Preparation for weaving

Weaving transferable skills into the curriculum – without losing the thread

Soft skills are critical for preparing students for success in university and beyond, but how do you weave transferable skills – such as teamwork, presentation and communication – into course design without sacrificing academic depth? Tiffany Shoop offers practical advice

Tiffany Shoop

Virginia Tech

Young male teaching assistant with two college students

Motivation by design: faculty-led strategies for learning that matters

Apps or algorithms alone won’t drive the students of the future to learn. Rather, it will be faculty domain expertise that aligns with how they think, work and learn. Margaret Ellis explains how to design learning for student motivation

Margaret Ellis

Virginia Tech

Female college students working together in class

Old-fashioned methods to circumvent student overuse of AI? Maybe

Higher education teaching faculty are exploring the use of old-school teaching and testing methods to prevent students from using artificial intelligence during exams and for homework. Is this a good idea? Cayce Myers takes a deep dive

Cayce Myers

Virginia Tech

Multiracial group of students

Greeting first-year university students with ‘structured serendipity’

Students start university with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Institutions should address that emotional landscape early – to help incoming cohorts adjust to newfound independence, discover what it takes to succeed academically and find their place to belong

Stephen Biscotte

Virginia Tech

Copyright concept

AI, copyright and the classroom: what higher education needs to know

As artificial intelligence reshapes teaching and research, one legal principle remains at the heart of our work: copyright. Understanding its implications isn’t just about compliance – it’s about protecting academic integrity, intellectual property and the future of knowledge creation. Cayce Myers explains

Cayce Myers

Virginia Tech

Close up on young woman looking at computer screen

The case for human-centred skills in higher education

For tomorrow’s challenges – and not just today’s jobs – students will need communication, critical thinking and interpersonal skills. So, faculty should look to embed these transferable skills across disciplines. Lauren Thomas explains

Lauren Thomas

Virginia Tech

Multiracial group of university students

The transfer student advantage: soft skills in motion

Transfer students bring more than credits to their new institution; they come with resilience, self-advocacy and real-world experience. With soft skills more essential than ever, it’s time to see these learners not as behind the curve but ahead of the game

Lauren Thomas

Virginia Tech

Skeleton sled event

Equipping university graduates to think beyond the classroom

Too many students – and some educators – misunderstand what critical thinking entails. Here, Marie Paretti explains why engineering students in particular struggle with open-ended problems, and how educators can design experiences that help them learn to think in context

Marie Paretti

Virginia Tech

Critical thinking concept

Teaching critical thinking is not enough – we must design for and assess it, too

Students are often told to think critically, but they need to be shown how – and evaluated on it. To truly embed critical thinking in higher education, educators must align teaching, assessment and expectations from the ground up

Nicole Pitterson

Virginia Tech

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Campus talks: using social media not as a tool but as a teacher in higher education

What can university educators learn about teaching and audience engagement from social media? Two experts – a psychologist and a professor of public relations – share strategies for connecting with students, finding wider audiences for niche research, and fighting misinformation

Peter Lovatt, Cayce Myers

Doctor Dance, Virginia Tech

Students working together in library

Redesigning the university library for creating and collaborating

University libraries are no longer just places of study, they are places of discovery, innovation and community. Patrick Tomlin discusses redesigning academic libraries to meet the ways that students and faculty learn and research

Patrick Tomlin

Virginia Tech

Young male student looking perplexed with mobile phone

Fighting falsehoods at the speed of the scroll

With students subjected to a steady stream of memes and manipulated narratives, teaching media literacy isn’t something university educators should do; it’s something they must. Cayce Myers offers advice for a misinformation age

Cayce Myers

Virginia Tech

Black female student using tablet

The scroll, the soundbite and the seminar: where media habits meet teaching

Students are raised in a world of algorithms, scrolls and screens. This means educators have to meet them on their terms: visually, aurally and interactively. Cayce Myers explains

Cayce Myers

Virginia Tech

Collaboration concept

Collaboration is a quiet evolution for bold impact

How can universities drive global progress through creative collaboration with private sector partners? Brandy Salmon shares lessons for university leaders

Brandy Salmon

Virginia Tech

Industry-academia partnerships concept

The alchemy of promoting partnerships between higher education and industry

With the promise of technological innovation and demand for talent, universities and industry have much to gain by working together. Brandy Salmon shares advice for developing sustainable, impactful industry collaboration

Brandy Salmon

Virginia Tech

Artificial intelligence in the university library

AI skills for tomorrow’s university librarians

University librarians need to understand how to guide students and faculty in using AI tools ethically and effectively. In the future, they will be not only information experts but also AI facilitators. Yinlin Chen offers advice on laying the groundwork

Yinlin Chen

Virginia Tech

Young scholar working in library

University libraries’ modern role in supporting faculty and graduate research

When research is increasingly computational, interdisciplinary and comprised of multi-institutional teams who frequently collaborate virtually, university libraries must keep pace to support faculty and graduate students, as Tyler Walters explains

Tyler Walters

Virginia Tech

Exterior of the Newman Library at Virginia Tech

How to put joy at the centre of the university library

The role of the university library is poised for re-evaluation – not just as an academic hub but as a space where connection, belonging and access can come alive in everyday ways. Pro tip: cake and dogs help. Kayla McNabb explains

Kayla McNabb

Virginia Tech

Young male university student in library

‘Many academic librarians are now effectively digital curators’

Through the advent of the internet, digitisation and artificial intelligence, libraries’ purpose in supporting their users’ success remains unchanged. So, how can academic libraries transform their services to meet evolving needs?

Tyler Walters

Virginia Tech

Robot researcher in a lab

Guard rails to mitigate ethical concerns for AI use

Artificial intelligence can vastly improve productivity and advance innovation, but integrating AI into academia brings significant ethical implications. These policies and procedures could help mitigate these concerns

Qin Zhu

Virginia Tech

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

Semiconductor manufacturing concept

Connect and catalyse: international collaborations in the semiconductor field

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

Yang “Cindy” Yi

Virginia Tech

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

Measurement concept illustration

Assessment or measurement?

Authentic assessments and measurements serve distinct purposes in understanding student success in higher education. Here’s why equating the two can undermine the depth and quality of student learning

Heather Strine-Patterson

Virginia Tech

Care concept

Building a culture of care to support students’ mental health

Mental health support is a community-wide concern, which includes easy-to-access counselling, staff awareness and training, an empathetic environment and community hubs, writes Amy Epperley

Amy Epperley

Virginia Tech

Multiracial group sitting around housing plans

Navigating uncertainty with interdisciplinary teaching

The siloed approach to education – where students in technical, business, humanities and arts disciplines learn separately – is no longer adequate, writes Lisa McNair

Lisa McNair

Virginia Tech

Professor talking to male Asian student

How to know when students need mental health assistance

Academic institutions have a rare opportunity to intervene to help students with mental health challenges, but this requires support and training for staff and faculty, writes Amy Epperley

Amy Epperley

Virginia Tech

Young woman in front of brain illustration, arts and sciences

What a transdisciplinary lens brings to university teaching

Why is it important to integrate knowledge and methodologies across disciplines? Catherine Amelink has recommendations to encourage the student engagement needed to address complex, weighty problems

Catherine Amelink

Virginia Tech

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

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

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

podcast graphic

Campus talks: educating our way out of the climate crisis

Two academics share strategies for advancing climate action and boosting sustainability at an institutional and individual level

Liz Price , Tripp Shealy

Manchester Metropolitan University, Virginia Tech

Latin woman looking thoughtful with book

How to bring Indigenous knowledge into classrooms and curricula

Academic institutions have a mandate to engage and serve the Indigenous communities whose land they occupy, writes Edward Polanco. Here, he offers tangible techniques for amplifying these voices on campus

Edward Polanco

Virginia Tech