How I stopped worrying and learned to embrace pre-prepared coursesI was shocked when first told I had to teach a ‘shell’ prepared by a colleague a few years ago, but I’m actually growing from the experience, says George JusticeGeorge JusticeArizona State University
Researchers: fight back against your struggle with self-promotion Postdoc or professor, the self-promotion struggle is real. So, how can we promote ourselves without sounding too ‘sales-y’? Emma Williams has the answersEmma WilliamsEJW Solutions
Preparing students for an uncertain future through career planningLessons in engaging students in future career planning and preparation as part of their university studies, shared by Stephen Warrington, Katherine Cameron and Matt VickersStephen Warrington, Katherine Cameron , Matt Vickers The University of Edinburgh
I’ve successfully climbed the academic career ladder − now what?Having spent my entire career trying to get to where I am now, I’m working out how to slow down and seize the opportunities ahead, says Lucas LixinskiLucas LixinskiUNSW Sydney
Two ed-tech trends that educators should watch forThe growth of ed-tech has sparked fresh approaches to teaching. Here, Vikas Nand Kumar Batheja shares two teaching trends worthy of educators’ attentionVikas Nand Kumar Batheja Capital University College
Re-engaging adult learners is key to a sustainable HE recoveryWinning back those who left college without a degree will be key in reversing the declines of the past year, say Kai Drekmeier and Amanda WintersKai Drekmeier, Amanda WintersInsideTrack, National Governors Association
Co-creating with students: practical considerations and approachesStacy Katz explains how to develop meaningful learning experiences by collaborating with students, rather than determining for themStacy KatzLehman College CUNY
It’s past time for a serious appraisal of mindfulness educationTrue mindfulness education goes beyond pedagogy and improving learning outcomes – it is a holistic approach for developing students and staff, says Christine RiversChristine RiversUniversity of Surrey
The dos and don’ts of creating a large-scale sustainability moduleRachel Lander, Sylvia Snijders and Gustavo Espinoza Ramos discuss lessons learned from creating a sustainability module that’s taken by 600-plus students per yearRachel Lander, Sylvia Snijders , Gustavo Espinoza Ramos The University of Westminster
Three steps to designing online learning that supports a sustainable futureLizzy Garner-Foy offers practical guidance on how to plan, design and develop open, accessible online learning materials that support work towards the SDGsLizzy Garner-FoyThe University of Edinburgh
Students demand action on the climate crisis now – not laterCOP26 is the world’s best – and perhaps last – chance to get runaway climate change under control, and to reach net zero HE needs to act swiftly, says Manveer GillManveer GillClimate Commission for UK Higher and Further Education
Creating advice videos to help students and support your teachingNicholas Morton tackles five basic questions about creating advice videos designed to help students easily source guidance and information when they need itNicholas MortonNottingham Trent University
Fellow vice-chancellors, we must lead the charge on equalityIt’s incumbent on us all to ensure our universities offer inclusive and diverse settings in which anyone, regardless of their background, can flourish, says Craig MahoneyCraig MahoneyUniversity of the West of Scotland
Supporting student action on sustainabilityStudents want opportunities to develop skills and knowledge to address sustainability issues. Matthew Lawson describes how sustainability can be embedded into the student experienceMatthew LawsonThe University of Edinburgh
How thought leadership can build your institution’s reputation onlineWill Harvey explains how institutions can use research proactively to enhance the perception of their capabilities and characterWill HarveyThe University of Exeter
Prepare for student sustainability demands to go through the roofStudents will be the driving force behind universities finally being held accountable and made to practise what they preach on climate change, says Andreas KaplanAndreas KaplanESCP Business School
Competing hierarchies of oppression: why is race a lower priority?Gender is often given priority in HE because it’s seen as a universal concern that affects all women, but this ignores racism within gender equality work, says Kalwant BhopalKalwant BhopalUniversity of Birmingham
How to teach online with voice onlyYutthana Srisavat explains why and how he adapted his teaching to instruct using just his voice via a messenger app, as a way to keep classes accessible to remote students Yutthana SrisavatSiam University
Don’t forget that international students need careers support tooJust 2 per cent of international students find jobs through UK universities’ careers services – a big failure given their economic input, says Alexis BrownAlexis BrownHigher Education Policy Institute
Using films to encourage reflection and critical thinking in your teaching Noam Schimmel shares advice on how to leverage the pedagogical and emotive power of films to support your teachingNoam SchimmelUniversity of California, Berkeley
How does national culture affect the adoption of learning technology? Na Li, Xiaojun Zhang and Maria Limniou offer tips to counter the hidden cultural and social factors that reduce acceptance of virtual learning environments, based on their research Na Li, Xiaojun Zhang, Maria Limniou Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
So you want a novel way to support untapped research talent?There’s great scope for the sector to offer research development opportunities to taught postgraduate students, says John McKendrickJohn McKendrickGlasgow Caledonian University
Using productive failure to activate deeper learning Manu Kapur explains how using a flipped-classroom approach, setting students problems that they are unable to tackle properly until they have been taught the associated concepts, deepens their learning through ‘productive failure’ Manu KapurETH Zurich
Community colleges are the front line for workforce innovation As bachelor’s-granting institutions grow ever more focused on employability, there’s much they can learn from community colleges, say Vicki Karolewics and Bharani RajakumarVicki Karolewics , Bharani Rajakumar Wallace State Community College, TRANSFR
Now is the time to design a system in which all learning countsOur conventional, top-down approach fails to recognise that working adults often already possess many critical work skills, say Lisa McIntyre-Hite and Mackenzie Jackson Lisa McIntyre-Hite, Mackenzie JacksonGuild Education
If peer feedback was good enough for the Brontë sisters, it’s good enough for usThe shift online provides new ways to harness the power of peer feedback to improve writing skills, say Sherry Wynn Perdue, Pam Bromley, Mark Limbach and Jonathan OlshockSherry Wynn Perdue, Pam Bromley, Mark Limbach, Jonathan OlshockOakland University, Scripps College, Peerceptiv
Coming to terms with terminology: the basics of university teaching and research in the USLooking to teach or do research in America? Angela Douglas explains the basic terms, acronyms and structures of US academia to ensure everyone is speaking the same language Angela DouglasCornell University
Forget the tech – in the new normal, let’s focus on human beingsThe key to making learning effective, now and in the post-pandemic world, is focusing on motivation, says Grace McCarthyGrace McCarthyUniversity of Wollongong
UK universities have their heads in the sand on student addictionIsolation and shame pose big risks to recovery from addiction problems, yet on-campus support programmes are rare in the UK, say Suzi Gage and Shahroo IzadiSuzi Gage, Shahroo IzadiUniversity of Liverpool
Creating a virtual research centre ecosystem using Microsoft Teams To the busy academic, it may seem like yet another system to learn. But Amy Conley Wright and Betty Luu explain how a team-working platform can aid communication long after the pandemicAmy Conley Wright, Betty LuuUniversity of Sydney
Equal research partnerships are a myth – but we can change thatThe movement for decolonising universities should also be applied to research ‘partnerships’ and their unequal balance of power, say Faith Mkwananzi and Melis CinFaith Mkwananzi , Melis CinUniversity of the Free State, Lancaster University
Want to get on in research? You need to manage people effectivelyFrom supervisors to friends and family, the key to success is organising the people around you, says Ellie KingEllie KingThe University of Warwick
How higher education can do better at developing skills for the workplace Universities must do more to nurture enduring skills that can be transferred across different contexts such as critical thinking, problem-solving and communication, says Ben Nelson Ben NelsonZayed University
How AI and chatbots can deliver personalised career planningThe development of careers chatbots could be considered a threat to guidance practitioners, but the reverse is true, says Caroline TolondCaroline TolondArden University
Serious play: building knowledge with Lego bricks Using Lego blocks to aid brainstorming has migrated from boardrooms into university classrooms. This guide explores how to get the most out of it in your teaching – whether virtual or on campus Caitlin Kight, Holly HendersonThe University of Exeter
Obliterating the academic calendar is the easy partMore money for US community colleges and new thinking on semester lengths must be accompanied by cohesive pathways to degrees, say Karen A. Stout and Tom ShaverKaren A. Stout, Tom ShaverAchieving the Dream, Ad Astra Information Systems
There are so many reasons why EDI is not the answerIf we wish to transform our institutions, we must see EDI not as an end but as a tool to start recognising the power that feeds oppressive structures, says Manvir GrewalManvir GrewalThe University of Westminster
Challenging Islamophobia across higher educationIbtihal Ramadan explains why Islamophobia remains absent from many universities’ efforts to tackle racism and what steps can be taken to address the problem at an institutional and individual levelIbtihal RamadanSwansea University
There’s no room for complacency: act now to improve digital inclusion Sue Bennett outlines a call to action for academics and institutions to recognise inequalities in access to, and proficiency with, technology among students and to help extend digital inclusion to all Sue BennettUniversity of Wollongong
Authentic leadership isn’t new – but we need it more than ever in HEFor leadership to be effective, we need to understand our own limitations and listen to others to learn how to overcome them, say Sarah Jones and Alasdair BlairSarah Jones, Alasdair BlairDe Montfort University
Embedding social impact considerations into business programmes Ridhima Aggarwal shares effective strategies for fostering a deep understanding of how business and society are interlinked and embedding social impact considerations within business school teaching Ridhima Aggarwal INSEAD
We can make research more ethical without compromising its qualityThe debate on the ethics of randomised control trials isn’t getting us anywhere – it’s time for solutions, says Stefano CariaStefano CariaThe University of Warwick
Demystifying impact: a glossary of key terms The extensive terminology surrounding research ‘impact’ can be confusing for those new to it. To help, Alex Smith and Laura Tucker have compiled a glossary of the most common termsAlex Smith, Laura TuckerVertigo Ventures
It’s our duty to teach more inclusively − online, in person or hybridStudents want to be seen, heard and valued, and there are many ways to include them while fostering equitable learning outcomes, says Flower DarbyFlower DarbyNorthern Arizona University
Creating opportunities to enhance student employability onlineWorking online presents opportunities for students to develop their employability in the digital space. Ruth Donnelly lists how remote programmes can prepare them for the changing workplace Ruth DonnellyThe University of Edinburgh
Online CPD is one pandemic innovation worth fighting forLet’s not waste this opportunity to make development broader and more inclusive using the lessons of the past 18 months, says Chris HeadleandChris HeadleandUniversity of Lincoln
Developing flexible lifelong learning in line with changing needs and opportunities Jonathan Michie shares insight to help institutions develop lifelong learning strategies that meet the need for flexible and relevant educational programmes Jonathan MichieUniversity of Oxford
Covid as a catalyst: deepening lifelong learning Miriam Green and Susanna Leong share key considerations for universities to develop effective lifelong learning programmes that will keep pace with the rapid changes across higher education Miriam Jacqueline Green, Susanna HS LeongNational University of Singapore
The shift online could set digital learning back by yearsThe digital tools used during the pandemic may help address access and scale, but they do little to help students actually learn, says Tom AdamsTom AdamsQuantic School of Business and Technology
A model for developing global expertise in blended learningDaniella Bo Ya Hu outlines a framework for building expertise in blended learning using lessons in capacity development, staff incentivisation and leadership learned from an international pilot training programmeDaniella Bo Ya HuThe Association of Commonwealth Universities