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3minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 12 January, 2024

Don’t just chat(GPT): turn on critical interrogation

By Eliza.Compton, 5 September, 2023

How can universities disrupt the gender investment gap?

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4minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 6 June, 2023

A translation exercise to improve students’ creative writing

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4minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 11 April, 2023

You’re not alone: tips to help academics avoid social isolation

Middle-aged woman with laptop looking out office window

Connections with colleagues matter – without them, support during periods of reappointment, promotion or tenure can feel tenuous. And those unwritten expectations of collegiality become opaque, explains Karen Z. Sproles

By dene.mullen, 30 March, 2023

Want students back in the classroom? Don’t give everything away online

Giving away all content online does not encourage student attendance

Empty classrooms are an unfortunate reality of post-pandemic universities. To stop this, we need to explain the fundamentals of learning and tempt students back

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4minutes

By dene.mullen, 28 March, 2023

What LGBTIQ+ allyship means in academia

Allyship for LGBTQ+ in academia and universities

Being a queer person who very much appreciates allyship and who tries to be a good ally to others has taught me a few things, says Lucas Lixinski

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4minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 27 March, 2023

Towards 2035: a future view of university education

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4minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 11 August, 2022

Is it possible to decolonise the business curriculum?

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4minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 9 March, 2022

What Wordle teaches us about the power of success

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3minutes

By Miranda Prynne, 2 March, 2022

How to support women of all ages in post-secondary science education

By dene.mullen, 22 February, 2022

Gatekeepers or greeters? We must demystify university for first-gen students

The way university teachers and lecturers speak to first-generation students can make a huge difference to how they get on in higher education

Stone Meredith gives advice on using positive introductory phrases and how this can help first-generation students navigate university

By Eliza.Compton, 21 February, 2022

How to start an academic YouTube channel: tips from a psychology YouTuber

Social media influencer or blogger present and review recording or streaming vlog

YouTube is a wide-open opportunity for university teachers and researchers to share their knowledge with a broader audience, says Dennis Relojo-Howell

By dene.mullen, 18 February, 2022

Boosting female representation in STEM is crucial to global innovation

Universities and society at large must promote female involvement and achievements in STEM

Addressing the gender disparity in STEM isn’t just a question of striving for a fairer society, it’s also fundamental to solving the complex challenges that affect us all

By dene.mullen, 17 February, 2022

We must confront the assumptions that have held back HE for centuries

Outdated thinking has held back universities and higher education for centuries

A transformed system of HE would cast off these outdated assumptions about learning and base educational practices on the best research, says Nobel winner Carl Wieman

By dene.mullen, 16 February, 2022

We can help students with intellectual disabilities shatter glass ceilings

With the right kind of support, university students with mental disabilities can thrive both on campus and in the workplace

With the right approach and a strong institutional commitment, students with intellectual disabilities can thrive at university and in the workplace

By dene.mullen, 11 February, 2022

Let’s not allow tradition to stifle innovation in higher education

Returning universities to face-to-face-only experiences would be regressive when online learning has come so far

The UK education secretary has said there are ‘no excuses’ for online learning at universities – but there are many reasons to persevere, says Lil Bremermann-Richard

By dene.mullen, 9 February, 2022

Professors who ‘practise what they preach’ help humanise research management

Academics who practise what they preach will always be more effective in the classroom

There is a need in academia for professors to match teaching and research with professional practice – and be fairly compensated for it

By dene.mullen, 7 February, 2022

The metaverse will change everything – including academic research

Extended reality and the metaverse must become a research priority for universities

We must push XR research boundaries if we’re to understand and shape our future reality – here’s how, says Neil McDonnell

By dene.mullen, 4 February, 2022

Conversations around stress must move beyond ‘I’m fine, how are you?’

The stress continuum is a traffic light system that might help university staff and students discuss well-being

Sara Metz offers practical advice on adopting the ‘stress continuum’ – a shared language and system to help staff and students reflect upon and discuss their well-being

By dene.mullen, 3 February, 2022

We need to move beyond the synchronous versus asynchronous debate

Synchronous or asynchronous university lectures are not the issue if students aren't focusing on either of them particularly well

Academics are agonising over the wrong elements of online education. They should be thinking about active versus passive learning, says Simon Chesterman

By dene.mullen, 2 February, 2022

Focused freewriting is the cure for students’ writer’s block

Freewriting is a useful exercise for university students to help cure writer's block

Freewriting for five minutes warms up the brain and begins to fill students’ blank screens with material that gets their writing going. Anne Carlisle talks through the process

By dene.mullen, 1 February, 2022

New rules on lecture transcripts give academics an impossible choice

New rules for lecture subtitles and transcripts are creating huge amounts of extra work for time-poor academics

Higher education leaders must engage on new transcription requirements post-pandemic to ensure academics don’t have to choose between inclusion or increased workload

Reading time

3minutes

By dene.mullen, 31 January, 2022

I ran the BBC World Service – it showed me how universities can be truly global

A war reporter on the BBC, an organisation that opened its outlook to include overseas voices - which higher education also needs to do

Forget our universities’ Brit-centric approach – developing an authentically global experience needs to be at the core of higher education’s digital future

By dene.mullen, 28 January, 2022

External engagement in academia: lessons from the business world

University academics can be bad communicators - and this can be a problem when trying to engage industry

Many academics see external engagement as a chore. Others are just unable to appreciate industry perspectives. Both are stifling the contribution of universities

By dene.mullen, 25 January, 2022

Why interdisciplinarity is just like a fantasy role-playing game

Creating an interdisciplinary team at research universities is just like playing a fantasy role-playing game

Who’s the barbarian? Which one’s the wizard? Lorena Quilantán García offers practical advice on embarking upon your very own interdisciplinary hero quest

By dene.mullen, 24 January, 2022

Are you a researcher who’s ready to move away from the bench? Here’s how

How university researchers can say goodbye to the lab and hello to an admin role

Deciphering job titles, utilising your network and coming to problems with ‘fresh eyes’ are all crucial for those moving from the lab to an admin role

By dene.mullen, 21 January, 2022

Graduate programmes have a lot to teach HE about enrolment

University enrolment teams could learn a lot from the lessons of graduate programmes

Steady increases in graduate enrolments have been one of the precious few bright spots during perhaps the most volatile period for higher education in recent memory

By dene.mullen, 20 January, 2022

We must rethink PhDs to smash barriers and ensure bioscience success

Rethinking PhDs to create graduates that are both academic and commercial is crucial to bioscience success

Redesigning PhD training will help develop commercially savvy researchers, address skills gaps in UK bioscience and bolster innovation, say Simon Cook and Derek Jones

By dene.mullen, 18 January, 2022

Has government investment in higher education equity been worth it?

Australian government has invested heavily in university equity initiatives

Evaluating the success of sector-wide initiatives is fraught, but there are some universal truths that should be considered, say Steven Howard and colleagues

By dene.mullen, 14 January, 2022

Academic snobs can’t afford to ignore LinkedIn any longer

Engaging with LinkedIn is essential for the modern university academic when looking for a new job

Considering a career move? When asking for a favour, such as info or an introduction, it helps to build a chain of trust. Which is where LinkedIn comes in, says Emma Williams

By dene.mullen, 13 January, 2022

I took an alternative route to academic success – and I’m happier than ever

University academics can take risks to get to the top

I ignored senior management and marketing departments and experimented with making my work more accessible and interesting – it paid off, says Jonathan Wilson

By dene.mullen, 11 January, 2022

Why interactive and game-based instruction beats lecturing every time

Giving university students word puzzles, quizzes and using games can be an excellent way for lecturers to engage them

Going through the motions is easy for experienced lecturers, but we should all go the extra mile to make our classes interactive, challenging and fun, says Nancy Boury

By dene.mullen, 7 January, 2022

IPEDS and the trouble with student metrics in the US

The higher education sector in the US is using an antiquated system of judging student metrics

The IPEDS education data surveys hold great weight in the HE system, but they are not inclusive enough and thus no longer fit for purpose, says Elizabeth Harris

By dene.mullen, 6 January, 2022

Let’s harness students’ desire for interaction to define the future of learning

We know that university students want to learn together

We know that students want to learn together. That information should underpin how we allocate resources to best serve their needs, say Derfel Owen and Ant Bagshaw

By dene.mullen, 5 January, 2022

Universities must help their communities preserve heritage languages

Even second-generation immigrants are in danger of losing their heritage language, but universities can help

Language loss is a real danger among even second-generation migrants – here’s how to help, say Sender Dovchin and Rhonda Oliver

By dene.mullen, 27 December, 2021

Complaining that the leadership talent pool is running dry? Here’s how to fill it

Too many university academics complain that the leadership talent pool is running dry without making any attempt to reach out to fresh talent

Abandoning traditional hierarchies and allowing mid- and early-career staff to experience leadership creates a thriving, diverse talent pool, say Jo Cresswell and Peter Hogg

By dene.mullen, 23 December, 2021

Research time disappearing before your eyes? Try student collaborations

Working alongside students can have positive impacts on research time and also student outcomes

Working alongside students can help academics to both protect their research time and boost student employability, say Dean Fido and Louise Wallace

By dene.mullen, 22 December, 2021

My Christmas wish? Wider recognition that blended is different from online

Santa goes online. But university students and staff seem to be conflating online and blended learning, when they are two separate entities

Following two years of disruption and jumping between modes of delivery, many students and staff seem to be – incorrectly – conflating blended with online, says Harriet Dunbar-Morris

By dene.mullen, 17 December, 2021

Collecting data on our students is the only way forward

Large amounts of data can now be collected on students in order to help improve their learning outcomes

Ubiquitous data collection will give rise to large datasets, which can help improve outcomes for all students – especially those most in need, says Daphne Koller

By dene.mullen, 16 December, 2021

Cybersecurity in the HE sector – getting the basics right

Ransomware and other online dangers can be utilised by hackers to attack universities if they do not have their cybersecurity sorted

Managing security updates, vulnerability reviews, password policies and multi-factor authentication are staple university needs, says Clive Madders

By dene.mullen, 15 December, 2021

Why do we expect students to work well in groups if we don’t teach them how?

A group of university students arguing. We should teach students how to work together as a team

If we’re going to assign team projects, and if we really believe working well in a group is important, we must teach effective group processes, says Todd Zakrajsek

By dene.mullen, 14 December, 2021

Is your curriculum design limiting students’ learning potential?

Self-regulation is a vital skill for university students to be taught by their lecturers

All too often, insufficient emphasis is placed on development of the self-regulatory skill sets that students need most in order to do well, says Carol Evans

By dene.mullen, 13 December, 2021

Ten useful tips for teaching a hybrid course for the first time

Tips for university academics on how to transition to hybrid teaching

Laura Patricia Zepeda Orantes shares recommendations for delivering hybrid courses, especially for teachers who are new to this way of working

By dene.mullen, 10 December, 2021

If universities push staff towards social media, they must protect them, too

At the very least, there should be training on managing online discourse, blocking tools and recognising when ‘robust debate’ becomes abuse or libel, says Andy Phippen

By dene.mullen, 9 December, 2021

It’s time to tackle perfectionism head-on in the classroom

Perfectionism has long been an affliction in academia for students and faculty alike

Perfectionism has long been the norm in academia. To combat it, we must offer help before it has to be asked for, say Laura March and Maggie Melo

By dene.mullen, 8 December, 2021

Researchers are too critical – we need to give ourselves (and others) a break

University researchers are too critical of themselves and others

It doesn’t have to be like this. Critical thinking means looking for the evidence – that is evidence both for and against, says Hugh Kearns

By dene.mullen, 6 December, 2021

How to ensure your university’s branding isn’t as bland as blancmange

Universities need to make sure their promo materials and slogans are not as bland as blancmange

Universities’ promo materials and slogans play it safe to the point of indolence, says Jonathan Wilson. He explains how to take a leaf from the global brand playbook

By dene.mullen, 3 December, 2021

What can universities learn from Amazon?

Universities can learn a great deal from the way Amazon embraced digital tech and constantly evolves

From putting the customer first to the buzzword that is ‘fulfilment’, there’s much to be gleaned from the way Amazon and its ilk embraced digital technology, says Peter Vervest

By dene.mullen, 2 December, 2021

Education and grades are often in direct conflict – it’s time for a messy divorce

Education and grades are often in direct conflict in higher education, so it might be time for a messy divorce

Universities don’t do a very good job of credentialing, and the process actively harms students and their learning, so why do we persist? asks Danny Oppenheimer

By dene.mullen, 1 December, 2021

Let’s all slow down before banishing invigilated exams forever

Universities should take stock before banishing invigilated exams for good

Despite the detractors, there still aren’t many better ways to ensure academic integrity and test knowledge and understanding, say Andy Grayson and Richard Trigg

By dene.mullen, 26 November, 2021

The government needs to square its rhetoric on creative courses

Creative courses are an easy target and have long been undervalued despite their importance to economies

Undervaluing the creative sector is nothing new, but the government also says it’s part of a ‘rich mix’ needed to deliver its ambitions. So which one is it, asks Paul Thompson

By dene.mullen, 25 November, 2021

Classes need less focus on employability and more on profound learning

Profound learning can be a revolution for your university

Classes are sometimes the least transformative elements of what students experience at university. We need to change that, say Davin Carr-Chellman, Ali Carr-Chellman and Michael Kroth

By dene.mullen, 24 November, 2021

Dragon’s zen: how to handle the jump from HE to a commercial venture

Turning an idea into a commercial interest is a hugely rewarding but challenging journey for university academics

The learning curve is steep when leaving academia for an entrepreneurial adventure. John Miles outlines what to expect and says the skills you learned as a researcher can help

By dene.mullen, 22 November, 2021

Lessons learned from supervising more than 150 researchers

The relationship between supervisor and early career researcher is crucial

The transition from PhD candidate to ECR is when the relationship between researcher and supervisor comes to the fore, say Tara Moore and Louise Robertson

By dene.mullen, 19 November, 2021

Universities need to prepare for the mature student onslaught

Universities should be preparing now to be inundated with older students given workforce shifts

Higher ed is notoriously bad at attracting and accommodating mature students. Given the workforce shifts spawned by the pandemic, this needs to change, says Dilshad Sheikh

By dene.mullen, 18 November, 2021

Don’t believe the hype: being an ECR needn’t be a lonely existence

Being an early career researcher does not need to be lonely

Finding ‘PhD pals’ in the same boat, but also learning to communicate your work effectively outside the research bubble, is crucial for ECRs, says Rebekah Ackroyd

By dene.mullen, 17 November, 2021

Can universities maintain their cultural identity in a blended world?

Can universities maintain their cultural identities in our increasingly hybrid world

A university’s identity cannot be neatly packaged. It changes over time and has different meanings to the diverse groups that make up that institution, says Nic Beech

By dene.mullen, 12 November, 2021

Now could be a smart time to move into environmental research

Now could be a good time to move into environmental research in universities

Against a backdrop of increased funding and publishing output, aligning yourself with the green economy early could be a shrewd move, says Tim Smith

By dene.mullen, 11 November, 2021

Bullying by supervisors is alive and well – now is the time to tackle it

Supervisor bullying of PhD students is a stain on universities and higher education

The arrangements that trap PhD students in toxic relationships with abusive supervisors must be reformed – here’s how, says Timothy Ijoyemi

By dene.mullen, 10 November, 2021

So you don’t think microaggressions have an impact?

Microaggressions are often shrugged off due to lack of intent, but intent and impact are very different

Microaggressions are often shrugged off by perpetrators because of a supposed lack of intent. But intent and impact are very different indeed, says rashné limki

By dene.mullen, 9 November, 2021

Cybersecurity remains a critical issue that universities must face

Cybersecurity is getting better at universities but they all need to do more

Statistics show that universities are getting better at defending against and preparing for cyberattacks, but much more needs to be done, says Heidi Fraser-Krauss

By dene.mullen, 8 November, 2021

Do EDI kitemarks help protect female researchers from online abuse?

Do EDI kitemarks provide any real protection for female academics subjected to online abuse?

While they allow institutions to claim commitment to gender equality, kitemarks do little to challenge them on their actual policies, say Andy Phippen and Emma Bond

By dene.mullen, 5 November, 2021

In praise of the ‘watch party’ – an update to the flipped learning model

Watch parties are a variation on the flipped learning model used in universities

Many new students struggle with the amount of self-directed learning at university. Perhaps it’s time to introduce watch parties, say Emily Nordmann and Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel

By dene.mullen, 4 November, 2021

How to make campuses and courses more compassionate

Making university campuses and courses more compassionate will lead to better student outcomes

Telling students that you’ve considered their well-being in organisational culture and curriculum design can in itself bolster confidence, says Louise Lawrence

By dene.mullen, 3 November, 2021

Should we do away with hierarchy in higher education?

Should universities follow the lead of business and think about demolishing hierarchy

I’ve found myself questioning whether a holacratic system, in which there are no managers or leaders, would work in universities, says Aspasia Eleni Paltoglou

By dene.mullen, 2 November, 2021

Three big mental health questions that academia must talk about

Higher education must face up to and answer some difficult questions over how it deals with mental health

A reckoning with how we handle mental health in higher education is long overdue, says June Gruber

By Eliza.Compton, 1 November, 2021

Returning to on-campus classrooms – are they fit for purpose?

Empty desks and chairs in classroom illustrating classroom design

Gunter Saunders explains why classroom design must take technology into account in facilitating active, student-centred learning

By Eliza.Compton, 29 October, 2021

Fear the zombie student apocalypse

Beware the academic undead this Halloween

Andy Farnell argues that non-assessed courses could free universities, and the academic undead, from increasing spiritual depletion and a lifeless pursuit of certificates

By dene.mullen, 28 October, 2021

How I stopped worrying and learned to embrace pre-prepared courses

Universities are creating pre-prepared, fully complete courses called shells

I 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 Justice

By dene.mullen, 27 October, 2021

Researchers: fight back against your struggle with self-promotion

Megaphone shouting. Researchers at universities must overcome the 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 answers

By dene.mullen, 26 October, 2021

I’ve successfully climbed the academic career ladder − now what?

After spending my entire career climbing the university career ladder, I'm now wondering what's next

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 Lixinski

By dene.mullen, 25 October, 2021

Re-engaging adult learners is key to a sustainable HE recovery

Tempting back adults who left college early without a degree could be key to higher education's recovery

Winning back those who left college without a degree will be key in reversing the declines of the past year, say Kai Drekmeier and Amanda Winters

By dene.mullen, 22 October, 2021

It’s past time for a serious appraisal of mindfulness education

Mindfulness education at university goes beyond pedagogy

True mindfulness education goes beyond pedagogy and improving learning outcomes – it is a holistic approach for developing students and staff, says Christine Rivers

By dene.mullen, 21 October, 2021

Students demand action on the climate crisis now – not later

Students are demanding action from higher education universities on climate change now

COP26 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 Gill

By dene.mullen, 20 October, 2021

Fellow vice-chancellors, we must lead the charge on equality

It is incumbent upon university leaders to create diverse and inclusive communities and curricula

It’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 Mahoney

By dene.mullen, 19 October, 2021

Prepare for student sustainability demands to go through the roof

Sustainability needs to be taught but also embraced by universities as students become ever more concerned

Students will be the driving force behind universities finally being held accountable and made to practise what they preach on climate change, says Andreas Kaplan

By dene.mullen, 18 October, 2021

Competing hierarchies of oppression: why is race a lower priority?

Race tends to come behind gender when it comes to university work on equality

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 Bhopal

By dene.mullen, 15 October, 2021

Don’t forget that international students need careers support too

International students needs careers advice too

Just 2 per cent of international students find jobs through UK universities’ careers services – a big failure given their economic input, says Alexis Brown

By dene.mullen, 14 October, 2021

So you want a novel way to support untapped research talent?

Universities should offer master's-level students the opportunity to gain research experience

There’s great scope for the sector to offer research development opportunities to taught postgraduate students, says John McKendrick

By dene.mullen, 13 October, 2021

Community colleges are the front line for workforce innovation

Community colleges are at the forefront of work-related study

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 Rajakumar

By dene.mullen, 12 October, 2021

Now is the time to design a system in which all learning counts

Universities' conventional, top-down approach fails to recognise that working adults often already possess many critical work skills

Our conventional, top-down approach fails to recognise that working adults often already possess many critical work skills, say Lisa McIntyre-Hite and Mackenzie Jackson

By dene.mullen, 11 October, 2021

If peer feedback was good enough for the Brontë sisters, it’s good enough for us

Peer to peer feedback, as used by the Bronte Sisters, is a crucial tool for improving writing skills in university students

The 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 Olshock

By dene.mullen, 8 October, 2021

Forget the tech – in the new normal, let’s focus on human beings

In the new normal we might forget the technology and focus on motivating human beings again

The key to making learning effective, now and in the post-pandemic world, is focusing on motivation, says Grace McCarthy

By dene.mullen, 7 October, 2021

UK universities have their heads in the sand on student addiction

UK universities have their heads in the sand when it comes to student addiction and recovery

Isolation 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 Izadi

By dene.mullen, 6 October, 2021

Equal research partnerships are a myth – but we can change that

The power divide between universities in the Global North and Global South makes equitable partnerships impossible

The movement for decolonising universities should also be applied to research ‘partnerships’ and their unequal balance of power, say Faith Mkwananzi and Melis Cin

By dene.mullen, 5 October, 2021

Want to get on in research? You need to manage people effectively

The secret to success as a researcher at universities is the ability to manage people

From supervisors to friends and family, the key to success is organising the people around you, says Ellie King

By dene.mullen, 4 October, 2021

How higher education can do better at developing skills for the workplace

Universities and higher education need to do a better job of preparing students 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

By dene.mullen, 1 October, 2021

Obliterating the academic calendar is the easy part

Obliterating the academic calendar is just the start for universities if they are to best serve their students

More 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 Shaver

By dene.mullen, 30 September, 2021

There are so many reasons why EDI is not the answer

Equality, diversity and inclusion strategies at universities should just be the start of the conversation, not an end in themselves

If 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 Grewal

By dene.mullen, 29 September, 2021

Authentic leadership isn’t new – but we need it more than ever in HE

Empathy is a big part of authentic leadership, along with open decisionmaking

For 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 Blair

By dene.mullen, 28 September, 2021

We can make research more ethical without compromising its quality

Randomised control trials are crucial for good science, but we can also improve their ethics

The debate on the ethics of randomised control trials isn’t getting us anywhere – it’s time for solutions, says Stefano Caria

By dene.mullen, 27 September, 2021

It’s our duty to teach more inclusively − online, in person or hybrid

Students want feel heard, valued, seen and represented

Students want to be seen, heard and valued, and there are many ways to include them while fostering equitable learning outcomes, says Flower Darby

By dene.mullen, 24 September, 2021

Online CPD is one pandemic innovation worth fighting for

Online CPD is one pandemic innovation that should stay for universities and the higher education sector

Let’s not waste this opportunity to make development broader and more inclusive using the lessons of the past 18 months, says Chris Headleand

By dene.mullen, 23 September, 2021

The shift online could set digital learning back by years

Online learning in its current form is not good at engaging learners, or even at teaching them

The digital tools used during the pandemic may help address access and scale, but they do little to help students actually learn, says Tom Adams

By dene.mullen, 22 September, 2021

HE needs to follow tech companies’ lead and go ‘agile’

Universities need shorter cycles of learning and credentialing, such as eight-week academic terms and quick, stackable certificates, says Tom Monahan

By Eliza.Compton, 20 September, 2021

Broccoli and birdsong: the shifty discourse of ‘staff well-being’

Stalk of broccoli cut down, illustrating responsibility for staff well-being

When institutions put responsibility for wellness onto individuals, they also deflect their role in staff burnout and mental ill health, writes Madeleine Davies

Reading time

3minutes

By dene.mullen, 17 September, 2021

How to ensure your mentorship programme isn’t one of the (many) bad ones

The importance of a structured mentorship programme for ECRs cannot be overstated

Structured mentorship programmes offer a non-judgemental setting in which to ask those pesky questions whose answers shape careers, says Lia Paola Zambetti

By Eliza.Compton, 16 September, 2021

Want to tear students from their phones? Learn their names

Holding students’ attention in a world of digital distractions is tough, but James Lang explains why remembering and using their names can make the task less herculean

By dene.mullen, 15 September, 2021

Displaced workers deserve more than short-termism from universities

Institutions must stop and think before helping reshape the career trajectories of millions of workers, says Gangaram Singh

By dene.mullen, 14 September, 2021

Leaders: how to build community and trust during a crisis

University leaders must build trust and create community

Charles Egbu, vice-chancellor of Leeds Trinity University, reflects on five key lessons he learned while taking the helm during the pandemic

By dene.mullen, 13 September, 2021

The UK must act now to preserve its reputation internationally

International students generate billions of pounds for the British economy so the nation must act to preserve its reputation overseas

The figures show that the UK is slowly losing its appeal to overseas students, but what can be done about it? asks Vivienne Stern

By dene.mullen, 10 September, 2021

Leaks and holes: beyond the pipeline versus process debate on diversity

A pipeline does exist in higher ed, but process and structural violence in education writ large keep puncturing the pipe, says Pardis Mahdavi

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen, 9 September, 2021

If we want non-traditional results, we need non-traditional approaches

A mixed group of students of varying demographics. This is becoming the norm in HE and the sector must listen to and respect the challenges these students face

We must listen to − and respect − the needs and aspirations of learners as they are, not as we wish them to be, say Gregory Fowler and Kate Smith

By dene.mullen, 8 September, 2021

University leaders need to demonstrate an adaptive mindset

University leaders must demonstrate an adaptive mindset and be aware they don't have all the answers

With huge change ahead, leaders must be brave and accept that the right decisions may not always deliver the best spreadsheet results, say Alasdair Blair and Sarah Jones

By dene.mullen, 7 September, 2021

What is the purpose of a university lecture?

A lecturer speaks to university students, but what is the role of the lecture in modern HE?

We must continue to question the true role of the lecture and how lecture recordings fit in to the effective delivery of higher education, says Jill MacKay

By dene.mullen, 6 September, 2021

Targeted advice and guidance is crucial for widening participation

Students need effective information, advice and guidance to make informed post-18 decisions

Especially post-Covid, pupils need a strong foundation that prepares them for future post-18 decisions

By Eliza.Compton, 3 September, 2021

Ready, player one? How video games can help engage students

The word ‘play’ and a downward arrow in neon

Engaging, rewarding and a great way to encourage active participation, games are a brilliant addition to a teaching and learning environment, says Chris Headleand

By dene.mullen, 2 September, 2021

Do we need equity or equality to make things ‘fair’? Actually, we need both

Most students need a helping hand, but giving every student the same thing does not necessarily equate to good support

Fair, to some people, means everyone getting the same thing. But that’s only fair if everyone begins at the same place and needs the same things to succeed, says Todd Zakrajsek

By sara.custer, 31 August, 2021

Follow the (learning) science and put problem solving at the centre of teaching

A magnifying glass among scattered letters represents problem solving

Rather than a digital transformation, universities should undergo a learning transformation that supports effective technology and evidence-based teaching, argue Carl Wieman and Bror Saxberg

By dene.mullen, 27 August, 2021

Early career researchers can say no, too

Early career researchers must master the art of saying no and not be too eager to please

Coming up with a series of questions for ECRs about each ‘opportunity’ as it arises can help them decide what is worthy of their time, says Lucas Lixinski

By dene.mullen, 25 August, 2021

We must dismantle the invisible career barriers in HE

Selection criteria in academia often creates invisible barriers for underrepresented groups

Despite surface appearances, universities’ recruitment and selection practices still present hidden obstacles to under-represented groups

By Eliza.Compton, 23 August, 2021

We need to help students overcome their textbook troubles

Student holding a wallet illustrating challenge of buying textbooks, affordability

As institutions re-examine the costs of attending university, the affordability of course materials is again moving to the centre of the conversation, writes Raj Kaji

By dene.mullen, 19 August, 2021

Self-directed learning is becoming the forgotten ingredient in HE

Self-directed learning is becoming overlooked by a sector to keen to talk about asynchronous learning and other buzz terms

In the heady rush to extol the virtues of asynchronous learning, we are watering down the main element of students’ learning experience, says Linda Kaye

By dene.mullen, 18 August, 2021

How can we solve Japan’s student mobility issues?

Japanese students, as well as the country's institutions, would benefit from greater multiculturalism

Japan struggles with multiculturalism as a concept, let alone a reality, and overseas students can suffer. But online education could offer help, says Haruko Satoh

By sara.custer, 13 August, 2021

Let’s embrace flexible learning as much as we have flexible working

A laptop, coffee and apple depict an unrealistic working from home set-up

Much like working from home, remote teaching and learning come with a range of benefits to learners if we just make room for them

By dene.mullen, 12 August, 2021

Blended learning is so bland − we need to punk things up

Blended learning is too bland - universities need to punk it up and improve their content

Just like musicians on tour, we must focus more on delivery and start holding ourselves to the same standards as any broadcaster or media company, says Jonathan Wilson

By Eliza.Compton, 11 August, 2021

Making grading in university courses more reliable

Reliability and validity of grading in university courses

Inconsistent or inaccurate grading can have serious real-world consequences for students. Paige Tsai and Danny Oppenheimer offer tips on how to recognise and fix the problem

By dene.mullen, 6 August, 2021

We must help our students make this a ‘summer of self-love’

It would be wise to keep an eye on our students over the coming months, as the period after lockdown typically brings intense emotional responses, says Bertus Jeronimus

By dene.mullen, 5 August, 2021

Want to be a better teacher? My daughter showed me we need to play more

Pushing boundaries and having fun can be crucial ways to rediscover the joys of teaching in universities

Testing silly ideas and pushing boundaries are crucial − and liberating − but universities must provide digital spaces where we can do so freely, says Andy Farnell

By dene.mullen, 4 August, 2021

Choppy digital waters lie ahead for many storied institutions

Traditional universities have often been too slow on the digital uptake

Traditional universities are too often led by the interests of lecturers rather than the employment needs of students or recruitment needs of businesses, says Dilshad Sheikh

By dene.mullen, 3 August, 2021

Is blended learning just a pipe dream for Indian HE?

Indian students on campus. It seems unlikely that online or blended learning would find an environment to thrive in India

It’s unlikely we are ready for a seismic shift while simultaneously trying to improve the quality of university education in general, say Gunjan Rajput and Swapnarag Swain

By sara.custer, 30 July, 2021

The foundational steps needed to advance online higher education post-Covid

Construction workers huddled over plans represent universities laying foundational steps for online learning

The will to evolve is essential, followed by a technology-led approach to pedagogy, student engagement and interactivity, says Steve Davies

By sara.custer, 28 July, 2021

A low-touch approach to high-touch online teaching

A person texting on their phone representing a teacher responding to students' questions

A little strategising can go a long way in increasing contact points with students without sacrificing work-life balance, says Sarah Rose Cavanagh

By dene.mullen, 26 July, 2021

Blended learning should be embraced for the benefit of all

Global education. Utilising the capabilities of online and blended learning could make education more accessible for people all over the world

By using online capabilities, higher education could be transformed from a privilege into a basic human right for anyone who wants it, says Sir Tim O’Shea

By dene.mullen, 23 July, 2021

We shouldn’t confuse online engagement with logging in

A student asleep on his laptop. Just because someone has logged into a class does not mean they have engaged with that class.

When assessing the all-important ‘engagement’ metric, the sector often defaults to the crude measurement of attendance − which is clearly flawed, says Chris Headleand

By sara.custer, 16 July, 2021

Funny memes and other ways to encourage students to keep their cameras on

A woman communicates with classmates in a synchronous remote classroom

Frank R. Castelli offers advice from his evidenced-based strategy to get students to use their cameras without requiring it

By sara.custer, 13 July, 2021

This is how administrators can support faculty to develop their online teaching

A group of people representing a small discussion group of university faculty

Faculty are poised to take their online teaching to the next level, but they’ll need time to reflect as well as appropriate resources and professional incentives

By dene.mullen, 11 July, 2021

Is it possible to think big thoughts virtually?

Is it possible to grapple with big questions in a virtual environment?

When discussing complex problems online, without the ability to read the room, the focus often shifts to what can be achieved rather than taking risks, says Donna Murray

By dene.mullen, 9 July, 2021

Government needs to step up in the student retention battle

Whitehall sign. The government needs to step up in the battle for student retention

The higher education sector needs the resources to get better at spotting students at risk of falling behind or dropping out altogether, says John Couperthwaite

By dene.mullen, 8 July, 2021

My first post-Covid conference showed me we need to prep for the campus return

We must admit that things are and have been bad during the pandemic and realise that people are at different stages of comfort with others

At this conference, faculty were like the walking wounded, but we can and should learn from it because our students deserve our best selves, says Flower Darby

By dene.mullen, 7 July, 2021

It’s time for the media to work with universities, not against us

Newspaper front covers. The media should work with universities to ease the burden of an already-difficult new academic year

The next school year is going to be challenging enough as it is without the skewed and absolutist coverage we’ve seen in the media lately, says Harriet Dunbar-Morris

By dene.mullen, 4 July, 2021

Chinese universities face a tricky route to the top

Tsinghua University. Chinese universities are on the up, but they have a glass ceiling to break through to become players on the world stage

China’s institutions are undoubtedly on the up, but they need to smash their glass ceiling to truly register on the world stage, says James Chin

By dene.mullen, 2 July, 2021

Why miss out on revenue when universities can take more blended learning in-house?

Universities are creating more of their own online content, but with that comes big questions for the future

Institutions are embracing the opportunity to create and deliver their own online programmes, but they’re realising that means more to think about, says Elliot Felix

By dene.mullen, 1 July, 2021

Don’t be fooled – community outreach can be even better online

Community outreach can be even better when carried out online

Covid and the move online made audiences even larger for our student-led social media workshops aimed at local businesses, say Dennis Olsen and Kristin Brewe

By dene.mullen, 30 June, 2021

Dead rank? Non-native speakers losing out on local dialects online

Road sign for the north and south of the UK. Regional accent differences can be even harder to familiarise oneself with when being taught online

Let’s face it, the virtual classroom isn’t the best environment for international students to get to grips with linguistic diversity, says Andrew Mackenzie

By dene.mullen, 29 June, 2021

Don’t forget that not all internet access is created equal

Not all broadband access is created equal and universities must take their student demographics into account when deciding on levels of online teaching

Broadband quality, and thus suitability for online tuition, varies greatly depending on where students come from, say Darragh Flannery, Dónal Palcic and John Cullinan

By dene.mullen, 28 June, 2021

This is our chance to create the classroom of the future

We know what works best for learning, and most of it is easier to implement in the online world, says Daphne Koller

By dene.mullen, 25 June, 2021

We must encourage the art of passing (virtual) secret notes in class

Passing a note in class. The modern version might be sending an emoji to a friend, but these back channels of communication are crucial

Far from being unwanted classroom distractions, informal communications such as gifs, emojis and online chat can fulfil basic human needs, say Claire Kinsella and Linda Kaye

By dene.mullen, 24 June, 2021

Distance learners deserve better than HE’s latest bait and switch

Remote learning is the latest scapegoat being used to justify returning to the ‘normal’ of rising tuition costs and sky-high student debt, says Zachary Michael Jack

By dene.mullen, 23 June, 2021

Don’t downplay the role of community colleges in healing a nation

The role of the community college should not be underestimated in terms of providing civil discourse and education opportunities

At a time of rampant disinformation, these two-year institutions can be the engines of enquiry and purpose that enable the next generation to rebuild our democracy, says Eduardo Padron

By dene.mullen, 22 June, 2021

A student mental health crisis awaits. Here’s how we avoid a bad fall

Universities are heading for a mental health crisis following the pandemic, so they need to start preparing now

Extra funding should be requested now to staff up wellness centres, counselling centres and campus ministries, says Todd Zakrajsek

By dene.mullen, 21 June, 2021

Returning to ‘normal’ is really a return to ignorance

A group of students. We need to move away from designing HE for the idealised 'traditional' student

Covid revealed that students need flexible and inclusive learning opportunities − something that should have been obvious well before the pandemic, says Torrey Trust

By dene.mullen, 18 June, 2021

The digital shift will have many (positive) side-effects

The shift online will have positive side effects that we haven't realised yet

In the not-so-distant future, we’ll realise the digital transformation has changed higher education for the better, in ways we never expected, say Rick Shangraw and Wayne Bovier

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen, 17 June, 2021

How leaders can seize higher ed’s ‘catalytic moment for change’

Leadership game of chess king. University leaders have a unique opportunity to lead change in the HE sector

Those that lead by example, reward innovative faculty and increase campus-wide buy-in will determine the future of higher education, says Jon McNaughtan

By dene.mullen, 16 June, 2021

Are online exams better for student mental health?

A stressed student prepares for an online exam. Assessment online brings a new set of problems for academics to be aware of

Traditional exams under tightly invigilated conditions are highly stressful for students, but online alternatives bring their own issues, says Michael Priestley

By dene.mullen, 15 June, 2021

The joy of text in a world of tech zealotry

Text and computer code. We should stop fetishizing high-tech teaching and realise that reading is an optimal means of learning

Why do we fetishise high-tech teaching while denigrating reading as a second-rate learning style? asks Andy Farnell

By dene.mullen, 14 June, 2021

Socialising is hugely important, but virtual campuses help learning, too

A female student logs in to a virtual campus.

The social elements of university help students succeed academically, so we must start transplanting them online, says Elizabeth Lehfeldt

By dene.mullen, 11 June, 2021

Professors, stop pretending that you never cheat

Preacher man. Academics need to drop the holier-than-thou attitude and sees themselves in their students when it comes to cheating

Academics should drop the holier-than-thou attitude and look at cheating from a student’s perspective if we want to understand and eradicate it, says Hamish Binns

By dene.mullen, 10 June, 2021

Let’s stop confusing what just happened with true online learning

We must stop confusing the emergency use online learning we've been relying on during the pandemic with real, well-designed online learning

During the pandemic, decades of research and practice were tossed aside in a matter of days, says Ali Carr-Chellman

By dene.mullen, 9 June, 2021

How do we rescue the reputation of blended learning?

A student studies at home in bed. Universities must make their moves towards blended learning open and easy to follow.

To convince students and stakeholders that blended learning is worth the full tuition fee, we need to tell them exactly how it will work, says Russell Crawford

By dene.mullen, 8 June, 2021

Never forget: your course is not only yours

A university campus. We should seize the opportunity to make our course design reflect the university as an institution

Too much of our instructional design undershoots the potential of higher education to improve not only individual lives but also the public good, says Robin DeRosa

By dene.mullen, 7 June, 2021

Recognition of academia’s ‘invisible labour’ is long overdue

Time pressure. Many in academia are putting in huge numbers of hours that are not rewarded or even recognised

We must ensure that academic citizenship becomes a key part of our job descriptions, on par with teaching, research and management, say Shari Boodts and Fleur Jongepier

By dene.mullen, 4 June, 2021

After the gold rush: how to respond to the Chinese student downswing

A Chinese departure hall. The influx of Chinese students is on a downward turn and universities worldwide need to be prepared

As the country’s outbound study trend cools, student recruitment strategies must evolve – and there is no ‘next China’ to fall back on, says Matt Durnin

By dene.mullen, 2 June, 2021

What does the rise of Asia mean for global higher education?

Collaboration between Asia and the West is a global common good in higher education and beyond

Many hurdles remain, from racism to presumed Western superiority, but equal dialogues and collaborations will foster the global common good, says Xin Xu

By dene.mullen, 1 June, 2021

Moving online could signal the death of pedagogy

Will the shift to hybrid learning signal the end of the sage on the stage?

Shifting to andragogical learning models is the ideal way to prepare students for independent study, research and the world of work, says Steve Davies

By dene.mullen, 28 May, 2021

Flexibility is key if we want students to connect with their studies

A diverse group of students requires a diverse range of learning opportunities, an approach that is championed by universal design for learning

Universal design for learning not only embraces diversity, it also uses it as the basis for providing choice in how students learn – and succeed, says Lillian Nave

By dene.mullen, 27 May, 2021

What does ‘student engagement’ mean to you? And you? And you?

Head in the clouds. Student engagement is used almost universally in HE, but no one seems to agree on what it actually means.

The move online compounded matters, but even before that, nobody could agree on what student engagement was – and that needs to change, says Chris Headleand

By dene.mullen, 26 May, 2021

Should lecturers be trained to deal with shortening attention spans?

Too many devices. Should we be training lecturers to deal with shortened attention spans?

Would my life be easier if I had received explicit guidance in how to deliver content in TikTok-length pieces? asks Katie Davis

By dene.mullen, 25 May, 2021

This model is the future of diversity in higher education

Diversity faces many challenges in HE, but the Council of Coalitions model at ASU could offer valuable lessons

Coming together for support is the only way forward – and the Council of Coalitions is the model for inter-group organising we desperately need, says Pardis Mahdavi

By dene.mullen, 24 May, 2021

The trials of teaching a ‘new’ script in a virtual world

Learning Chinese script. The challenges of teaching students a non-Roman language are manifold, especially online, but it's crucial to preserve linguistic heritage

Teaching non-Roman scripts online throws up great challenges, but we must preserve the world’s linguistic resources, say Rana Raddawi, Jingjing Ji and Ronit Alexander

By dene.mullen, 21 May, 2021

The sector’s mental health workers need help too

Personal crises can strike students at any time, especially given the pandemic, and those who help them probably need help too.

More assistance must be offered to help students survive, let alone thrive – and the same goes for student crisis interventionists like me, says Lula Torres

By dene.mullen, 20 May, 2021

Beware the futility of higher education’s wellness theatre

An atmospheric theatre. Beware the futility of wellness theatre

Surface-level emphasis on self-care without discussing systemic problems in HE runs the risk of gaslighting students who face very real barriers, says Fiona Rawle

By dene.mullen, 19 May, 2021

Digital resources now rank alongside housing, healthcare and education

Digital poverty is becoming as important an issue as housing, healthcare and education, especially with universities pivoting online

Universities, government, business and local communities must come together and provide strategic action to tackle digital poverty effectively, says Julian Thomas

By dene.mullen, 18 May, 2021

Moving student competitions online has made them better than ever

A virtual student competition. These events' move online has resulted in a much greater international spread of participants and collaboration.

Virtual competitions have flourished and resulted in greater international collaboration, says Gayle DeBruyn

By dene.mullen, 17 May, 2021

Short online courses can grease the wheels of student employability

With more and more students achieving high grades, online micro courses can help graduates stand out in the jobs market

The degree has transitioned from differentiating factor to basic benchmark. Online microcredentials can help graduates stand out from their rivals, says Madina Tash

By dene.mullen, 13 May, 2021

Covid-19 has reinforced China’s role as global leader in ed-tech

Made in China. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated China's position as the world leader in edtech.

The country’s giant companies benefit from an ecosystem that supports online learning and a cultural propensity to prioritise education, says Tom C. Varghese

By dene.mullen, 29 October, 2021

The educational ‘metaverse’ is coming

Online and blended learning must be stepped up to deliver equitable learning as part of the new "metaverse" that university students will come to expect

The universities best equipped with digital infrastructure and savvy human resources will emerge as the new leaders − no matter where they are, says Kwang Hyung Lee

By dene.mullen, 7 May, 2021

Digital-first thinking is needed to address youth employability

The government and HE sector must think digital-first when offering employability skills and training.

Younger people are geared towards digital channels, so they’re more likely to engage with innovative, online training as part of their studies, says Harminder Matharu

By dene.mullen, 6 May, 2021

Cybersecurity is not just for the geeks in the IT department

Our first-year university students might have received no education on cybersecurity since the age of 13, say Andy Phippen and Emma Bond

By dene.mullen, 5 May, 2021

Zoom meetings don’t have to be quite so painful

Zoom meetings do not have to be quite so painful for academics and university staff.

Simple actions can help avoid common pitfalls in the design and execution of online team meetings, say Rob Angell and Ben Marder

Reading time

3minutes

By dene.mullen, 4 May, 2021

Forget everything you think you know about online engagement

Universities have been taking all the wrong cues when trying to measure engagement.

There’s much interest in how many times students access the VLE or complete online tasks, but that only provides part of the picture, says Linda Kaye

By dene.mullen, 3 May, 2021

Online micro-learning can transform the teaching of sensitive topics

Difficult and emotional course content is easier to digest through non-linear, asynchronous delivery

Non-linear course design means that emotive and uncomfortable content can be paused or skipped and returned to another time, says Gemma Ahearne

By dene.mullen, 30 April, 2021

The sector should come together to welcome students back to campus

Universities wasted a lot of time developing individual online transition resources last year. Let’s not make the same mistake again, says Donna Murray

By dene.mullen, 29 April, 2021

Teaching students to think for themselves is not enough

Sharing knowledge and becoming 'intellectually dependable' are intertwined and should be placed at the forefront of education

The critical thinking ideal is too individualistic and self-focused − students must learn to help others think well, too, says T. Ryan Byerly

By dene.mullen, 28 April, 2021

Rethinking remote labs to deliver during Covid and beyond

Doing science at home. Harvey Mudd College in California devised many innovative methods to teach lab work online

Our faculty has devised truly innovative methods to replace the in-person lab experience, says Maria Klawe

By dene.mullen, 27 April, 2021

A bit of creativity can go a long way when teaching online

Getting creative in the classroom is crucial in helping stave off online adversity.

It’s crucial to shake things up to stop online delivery from homogenising even the most disparate teaching styles, says Constanza Pacher

By dene.mullen, 26 April, 2021

Only a digital drive will allow us to capture the boom in STEM interest

Huge uptake of science subjects is expected in the wake of the pandemic, and we must utilise online learning to serve the demand.

We certainly don’t want to turn away thousands of enthusiastic STEM students due to a lack of capacity, says Steve Davies

By dene.mullen, 23 April, 2021

AI has been trumpeted as our saviour, but it’s complicated

A robot marks a book. Aritificial intelligence has been trumpeted as our saviour, but the truth is much more complicated.

Time saved by lecturers on marking assignments could indeed be used to enrich teaching, but unfortunately many silver linings have a cloud, says Harin Sellahewa

By dene.mullen, 22 April, 2021

Social sciences, humanities and arts are critical for sustainability

Philosophy and other humanities are at the heart of making sustainability work on a national and international scale

The neglect of these areas is at the heart of why the shift to sustainability has been slow − and why it may eventually fail, say Eric Neumayer and Charles Joly

By dene.mullen, 21 April, 2021

Impostor syndrome can strike even in virtual internships

A student takes part in a virtual internship

It’s worrying that students who do internships online underestimate their contributions when employers rate them as valuable, say Chloe Severn and Katie Stote

By dene.mullen, 20 April, 2021

Covid proved that HE can change quickly and effectively after all

Loudspeaker design. One key takeaway from the Covid crisis is the proven ability of leadership to communicate effectively.

Much discussion has focused on what to do better, but we should also recognise strengths that had not been seen prior to the crisis, say Jon McNaughtan and Hugo García

By dene.mullen, 19 April, 2021

The campus is dead, long live the campus

The campus of the future will need to take into account the likely use of hyflex pedagogy

Potential post-Covid changes to campus design will slide along a spectrum from optimising space to rethinking academic structures, says Jay Deshmukh

Reading time

3minutes

By dene.mullen, 16 April, 2021

Virtual international exchange needs a sharpening of practice

Asian student learning about virtual exchange. There is a need to be clear on the outcomes of virtual exchange as it becomes more common.

For committed international educators, there is a need to clarify the purpose of virtual exchange before the trend takes hold, says Benjamin Tak Yuen Chan

By dene.mullen, 15 April, 2021

Lessons learned teaching online, from wi-fi woes to war zones

A photograph of a war zone. When teaching to diverse groups overseas, there are many circumstances to consider.

Human issues, particularly willingness to contribute to discussions, were more significant than tech issues when teaching across borders to diverse audiences, says David Mould

By dene.mullen, 14 April, 2021

Biden’s next big deal must include expanded broadband access

Rural America suffers from a lack of high-speed internet access, which in turn hinders social mobility

The pandemic helped expose an insidious digital divide that imperils efforts to reduce inequality and promote social mobility, says Jem Spectar

By dene.mullen, 13 April, 2021

Co-creation does not need to stop because we’ve moved online

Co-creation is still possible even though most teaching and learning is taking place online.

Co-creation is far more about mindset than suitability for a particular setting, and the evidence demonstrating its benefits is growing, says Catherine Bovill

By dene.mullen, 12 April, 2021

Virtual learning environments mustn’t lead to module silos

Virtual learning, book and laptop merged

We must ensure modules complement one another by establishing consistency in their form and functioning, says Maurice Kinsella

By dene.mullen, 6 April, 2021

Grades are dehumanising, but ‘ungrading’ is no simple solution

A scantron sheet. Do we dehumanise students when we put them into spreadsheet rows?

There is nothing ideologically neutral about grades, and nothing ideologically neutral about the idea we can neatly and tidily do away with them, says Jesse Stommel

By dene.mullen, 2 April, 2021

It’s time for the sector to embrace online work placements

A student takes part in an online work placement. Given the huge backlog of placements created by Covid-19, universities should consider e-placements.

Placement capacity has been shaken to its core by Covid, creating a huge backlog. We must look for sustainable alternative solutions, says Gilly Salmon

By dene.mullen, 31 March, 2021

Teaching in the hall of mirrors: should faculty ever mention appearance?

A shy student. Many young people do not want to see their likeness on-screen.

Educators must pay attention to why young people are using platforms that allow social interaction without visual scrutiny, says Elizabeth Losh

By dene.mullen, 30 March, 2021

Life beyond Zoom and Teams: students are ready for next gen online spaces

Cool, modern avatars for young people. Students are ready for the next generation of online comms technology and spaces, but the design of them is important

Virtual spaces can create a sense of community and connect students across disciplines – provided they are designed well, say Yvonne Rogers, Paola Lettieri and Ben Meunier

By Eliza.Compton, 15 March, 2024

Steps to adapt engineering education to changing skills demands

Context-based learning, teamwork and creativity are all elements that could help engineering training respond more effectively to the needs of complex workplaces, writes Parakram Pyakurel

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 22 March, 2024

Humans develop humans

Even small interactions with lecturers, tutors and peers offer opportunities for students to develop interpersonal skills, so it’s important we recognise and value these to ensure they are not lost, writes Marianne Savory

Reading time

3minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 3 April, 2024

Why the ‘machine says no’: how asking for less can get you more…

Under-investment and lack of future proofing of core digital systems have left many universities with creaking legacy infrastructure that cannot support increasing demands. Here, three digital adopters suggest that incremental improvements could be a way forward