Using GenAI avatars to assess empathy: how it works in practice
Could GenAI offer a new way to assess communication skills? Here’s what happened when a university team built an avatar
March 23, 2026
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Every AI learning persona needs an origin story
Anna, a fictional social responsibility consultant, mentors students analysing a company in crisis. Her story shows how thoughtfully designed AI personas can turn simple chat interactions into immersive learning experiences
March 23, 2026 -
Lecture room as tapestry: weaving culture, curiosity and learning together
Culturally inclusive pedagogy asks educators to redesign learning environments that work with, rather than ignore, the diversity in university classrooms. Here, Chipo Simbi offers advice around student engagement, assessment and safe spaces
March 23, 2026 -
Awareness to action: how to embed sustainability in university teaching
Almost every educator is already teaching aspects of sustainability, whether or not they name it as such, writes Esther Canónico. Here, she shares ways to include the SDGs in curricula so the learning is meaningful for students and their future careers
March 21, 2026 -
GenAI as a teaching colleague in assessment: a case study
GenAI can be a useful tool in assessment – if used intentionally. Find out what an intelligent dashboard can do for your students’ relationship to GenAI
March 20, 2026 -
Three ways to build an engaged student community from the ground up
Here’s how to bring students together to create a community on campus and encourage their active participation in university life from governance to volunteering
March 20, 2026 -
Lifelong engagement is the lifeblood of the academy
Universities should move beyond symbolic emeritus titles to create structured pathways for meaningful post-retirement contribution, say Theresa Mercer and Jim Harris
March 20, 2026 -
White out: how to defeat the blank page
Efficient academic writing requires a shift in mindset from simply counting words to incremental planning and using techniques that make progress visible even when the page looks empty
March 20, 2026 -
From policy to practice: how to embed accessibility standards at scale
How to build staff confidence, bridge communication gaps and align systems so that accessibility becomes business as usual
March 19, 2026 -
Connecting the dots between academic and professional services staff
Advice for working with the essential – and often unsung – professional services teams who enable universities to deliver effective teaching, research and student success
March 19, 2026 -
How to get students talking in seminar courses
From setting expectations before the course begins to structuring discussion and preparation, these strategies help educators turn hesitant students into confident, collaborative seminar course participants
March 19, 2026 -
Why critical visual literacy matters in a complex information landscape
Even in teaching materials and trusted sources, images are not neutral. Here, Alexius Chia explains how to guide learners from superficial impressions to being able to critique perspective, power and intent
March 19, 2026 -
‘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
March 18, 2026 -
Teaching deaf, deafblind and hard-of-hearing students: practical steps that benefit everyone
When educators design communication to work across multiple modes from the outset, classrooms become more accessible – and more effective – for everyone, says Annelies Kusters
March 18, 2026 -
How employability teams can strengthen academic programmes
Working like recruitment partners, rather than just career advisers, can help align teaching with industry needs, writes Hanene Duprat
March 18, 2026