Feature article

Connecting adult learning principles, assessment and academic integrity

Adult learning principles and authentic assessment can offer ways for educators to not only prevent academic misconduct but also give students a chance to demonstrate skills that employers want to see in graduates

Carl Sherwood, John Raiti

The University of Queensland

A group of people brainstorm around an office table

Ten tips when building a centralised evaluation unit

How can we establish and develop evaluation activities to show what support and interventions affect the student experience, as well as their learning, outcomes and destinations?

Steve Briggs, Diana Pritchard, Sibel Kaya

University of Bedfordshire

Students in class working on a project together

Events-based authentic assessment that can boost employability

While demonstrating knowledge through exams has its place, how often do we use exam techniques and skills in our daily lives? Events offer a more authentic way to demonstrate and test professional skills

Becky Lewis, Colin McClure

University of East Anglia, Queen’s University Belfast

How to make enterprise activities enjoyable and impactful

Incorporating knowledge exchange and enterprise activities into demanding academic schedules can be a challenge but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are ways to make it enjoyable, rewarding and impactful

Larisa Yarovaya , Jeni Giambona

University of Southampton

Members of Gen Z work in an office lounge

Universities need to act now to bridge the Gen Z gap

Many educators are still struggling to harness the talents of Generation Z and help set them up for employment. Just a few key business changes can make the connection, writes Salah Al-Majeed

Salah Al-Majeed

Al Akhawayn University

Business students discussing a case study in class

Eight fail-safe ways to build business students’ problem-solving skills

The volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) nature of business environments prompt employers to look for creative and agile graduates

Manju Meenakshy

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Community of practice concept illustration

A framework to develop communities of practice

Supporting communities of practice across an organisation can provide extraordinary benefits. Drawn from the author’s experience, these tips aim to build connection and engagement through a formalised framework and senior leader sponsorship

Karen Mather

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury

A business student taking optional courses to enhance her employability

Optional extracurricular modules can enhance business students’ employability

This resource offers guidance on how to design and promote extracurricular courses that you can offer alongside academic ones to boost employability

Yue Jiang, Nimesh Salike, Eddy Fang

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Blocks joined with string networking concept

How a strong network can enhance the PhD journey

Connections and collaborations can help PhD students (and their supervisors) cut through the isolation of research. Here’s how to leverage those links into employability

Meghan Casey , Andrew Barton , Madhu Chetty , Rose Ferguson

Federation University Australia , Australian Catholic University

Universities need to remember the true value of education

The sector’s focus on cost-effectiveness is overshadowing educational opportunities. Samar Abdelazim Ahmed argues for a redefinition of success

Samar Abdelazim Ahmed

Dubai Medical College for Girls

Embracing disagreement in research co-production

Co-producing a research project is not all consensus and harmony, so these four tips will guide research collaborators in how to allow and enable disagreements and dissenting voices

Gary Hickey

University of Southampton

Colourful paper explodes from one wooden head, black paper from the other

Let’s kindle the fire for discovery in our students

In his new book ‘Mindset Matters: The Power of College to Activate Lifelong Growth’, Daniel R Porterfield explores how to spark a heat-seeking search for knowledge among undergraduates

Daniel R. Porterfield

Aspen Institute

Buisiness woman using a tablet at her desk

Using knowledge graphs to integrate social media into curricula

Knowledge graph-based tools can support group learning online and help educators bring useful links with social media into their courses

Fouad Zablith

American University of Beirut

Young black male university student with a backpack

A sustainable strategy for educating the next generation of African youth

Young women and men from African countries will soon comprise the most significant group of globally mobile students. What if universities met them with a sustainable, positive vision for their communities and the host institutions? Here are practical strategies and resources

Melissa Aberle-Grasse

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

A lecturer speaking to a student at their desk

Managing empathy fatigue as a teacher

While not technically in the job description, academic professionals support their students with recognising and working through their mental health issues

Kshamta Sharma

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

When it comes to digital upskilling, sharing is caring

Launching a digital upskilling product is one thing but getting staff to use it is quite another. Katie Steen and Dave Weller harnessed the power of personalisation to get that all-important buy-in

Katie Steen, Dave Weller

University of Exeter

Colleges of Advanced Studies at Semmelweis University

How student learning communities support professional development

An effective way to nurture talent is to enable not only individual but also community learning. Here’s how the Hungarian system of colleges for advanced studies helps to train medical professionals who are also well versed in social issues

Ferenc Godó

Semmelweis University

A practical guide to navigating the language of diversity

Navigating the language of diversity is a continuous journey that requires commitment and effort

Yusra Siddiqui

University of Exeter

A group of people work in a room full of books

Tips for moving from learning designer to educational leader

Learning designers have all the skills to make great leaders. Here’s how to transition into the role

Paul Moss, Richard McInnes, Simon Marek

The University of Adelaide

Careers services must step up to support students with disabilities

From shaping a culture of support to working with industry, careers services have an important role in improving employability for students with disabilities

Peter Hylslop, Barbara Mackie

The University of Newcastle, Australia

A PhD graduate in cap and gown stands with her back to the camera

Five ways to connect PhD students with industry

Developing industry experience is often the last thing on the minds of the PhD community, but nurturing partnerships between academia and industry can enrich the journey, believes Maria-Christina Vogkli

Maria-Christina Vogkli

The London School of Economics and Political Science

Streamlining a move from a faculty position to a leadership role

Moving into a leadership role at an academic institution includes setting ambitious goals around collaboration and finding solutions to worldwide challenges. These techniques can support leadership success

Brian Lattimer

Virginia Tech

Researchers communicating their research to policymakers

What can the new government do to strengthen academic-policy engagement?

Following Labour’s landslide victory, all eyes will be on the new government to see how it will respond to current issues within higher education

Sarah Chaytor , Laura Bea, Chris Hewson

Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)

University leaders attending a conference

University leaders must become entrepreneurs to address inequality

A university’s achievement should not always be measured by rank, facilities or number of graduates. The greater community appreciates institutions that take steps to provide equal access to education, writes Bhakti Eko Nugroho

Bhakti Eko Nugroho

University of Indonesia

Can AI offer everyone a personal tutor 24/7?

Generative artificial intelligence can trigger a certain amount of angst, but AI’s potential to support student learning should be explored, write Steve Hill and Quintus Stierstorfer

Steve Hill, Quintus Stierstorfer

LIBF

How to become an administrator – and why you should

Many career paths lead towards administration. Arina Ziganshina draws on her own experiences to offer advice

Arina Ziganshina

Dubai Medical College for Girls

Students role-playing a psychology appointment

What simulations bring to teaching soft skills

Role play and immersive VR experiences can bridge the gap between theory and practice as students acquire – and teachers assess – skills in communication and problem-solving

Daniel Brown, Krystal Schaffer, Kim Stewart

University of Southern Queensland

Students need a balanced diet of assessment practices

We propose evaluating our assessments and incorporating innovative elements to better emulate real-world tasks in terms of both the process and product of assessment, write David Tree, Stephanie Baines, Pauldy Otermans, Nicholas Worsfold and Emily Hobson

Multiple authors

Brunel University London , University of East Anglia

Moving over to the dark side: academic or academic administrator?

Academics may view administrators with suspicion, but Elaine Sharplin recommends stepping over to the dark side – as long as you stay true to your roots

Elaine Sharplin

Nazarbayev University

Making sport accessible to everyone on campus

Fitness and sport programmes are not only for elite athletes. Here, Phil Malatesta offers advice for how to maximise students’ opportunities for movement and physical activity

Phil Malatesta

University of Southampton

21st-century skills for HE teachers

As teachers, we should continue to learn and reflect to equip ourselves with the skills, knowledge, expertise and other characteristics to cope with the complex and dynamic changes and challenges ahead of us, writes Adrian Man-Ho Lam

Adrian Man-Ho Lam

The University of Hong Kong

A woman shakes hand with a unseen person in an office setting

Innovative career services for a well-prepared workforce

How can universities enhance their student career support in response to the rapidly evolving employment landscape? Kelvin Cheng recommends three approaches to prepare students for better careers

Kelvin Cheng

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Develop and nurture teaching presence in a learning community

Strong teaching presence helps students facilitate their own learning. Here, Hannah Shaw and Mike Hackman offer quick wins for educators with advice on how to provide clear instruction and a safe learning space, and recognise topics as interconnected

Hannah Shaw, Mike Hackman

Cardiff University

Teacher explaining concepts to a group of students

The zone of proximal development in four stages

The zone of proximal development offers a practical and effective approach to bridging the gap between the knowledge and ability of students with and without assistance

Arunima K V

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

A holographic image of a brain emerges from a smartphone

Three key collaborations to foster digital fluency in students

While digital skills development is all-important for employability, no one can predict what the job market will look like in a decade. Instead, focus on digital fluency for well-rounded future employees. Jeni Brown and Nedelin Velikov explain how

Jeni Brown, Nedelin Velikov

The London School of Economics and Political Science

Are you ready to manage?

Management is rewarding, but managing people is not an easy task. It takes commitment and genuine passion to develop and empower people to achieve their very best, writes Colleen Robinson-Hunte

Colleen Robinson-Hunte

The University of the West Indies

Walking the tightrope towards tenure

Achieving a permanent academic position requires a deft juggle of research, teaching and service. Here, Cheong Fan offers advice on how to keep your balance

Cheong Fan

Macau University of Science and Technology

Three business people consider a document

For learning design projects, build the time to reflect on the past into your future

Reflective practice is essential for continuous improvement in learning design. Paul John Gregory Moss, Richard McInnes and Simon Marek explain how to incorporate structured reflection into project scopes

Paul Moss, Richard McInnes, Simon Marek

The University of Adelaide

Use gamification to teach complex international relations concepts

Simulations and games can significantly enhance students’ understanding of complex topics and help them apply relevant theories in real-world contexts

Linjia Zhang, Yingchan Luo

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Why I ban AI use for writing assignments

Students may see handwriting essays in class as a needlessly time-consuming approach to assignments, but I want them to learn how to engage with arguments, develop their own views and convey them effectively, writes James Stacey Taylor

James Stacey Taylor

The College of New Jersey

Experiencing the workplace can help students’ career readiness

How to help your graduates step straight into the world of work? Give them a taste of it while they’re still students. Gaini Yessembekova and Liliya Tleukenova offer advice

Liliya Tleukenova, Gaini Yessembekova

Nazarbayev University

Partnering with industry for authentic experiences and assessment

Getting students workplace-ready is a challenge. However, partnering with industry can help us offer authentic experiences and assessments that equip our students for successful futures in their chosen fields

Richard Bowater, Sarah Rayment, Michael Loughlin

University of East Anglia, Nottingham Trent University

How environmental issues can unite and inspire diverse student groups

Looking for ideas for next semester’s projects? Climate change could be the answer, whatever your students’ field of study, writes Jim Entwistle

Jim Entwistle

Teesside University

Brightly coloured paper cut outs of hands reach towards the sky

Five questions to consider when embedding cultural competency for internationalisation

Cultural competency involves seeing the world through the lens of other people, across race, gender and age barriers, among others. Shuangyu Li outlines the five questions to ask when embedding it

Shuangyu Li

King's College London

Balancing career readiness and finances: the case for abbreviated internships

Internships give students professional experience, guide career choices and boost job market competitiveness. But what if students need higher-paying summer jobs or can’t afford three months in a far-flung city? That’s where abbreviated winter internships come in

Margarita McGrath

Virginia Tech

We must acknowledge our positionality to inclusively engage the community

The work that can lead to change involves building relationships and understanding, and developing and sharing knowledge in partnership with our communities. Put simply, community engagement must engage the community, writes Nilufar Ahmed

Nilufar Ahmed

University of Bristol

Practical tips for graduate students undertaking a dissertation

Producing a doctoral dissertation can be an intimidating process, writes Bill Huckle. Here, he shares practical strategies for graduate students taking on the work to share their original contribution to knowledge with the wider community

William R. Huckle

Virginia Tech

A yellow ball rolls out ahead of blue blocks

We can face the challenge of corporatisation by embracing subversive leadership

Educational developers must balance the corporatisation of higher education with providing transformative education. To do this, subversive leadership is the key, argues Richard McInnes

Richard McInnes

The University of Adelaide

Kids watching demonstration at science centre

School visits are a triple-win for academics, schools and society

For researchers, taking science into the community is an opportunity to hone communication skills, increase impact and enthuse children to pursue their own university studies, writes Ben Kennedy. Plus, it’s fun

Ben Kennedy

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury

Students sitting on a patch of grass talking

The zone of proximal development: how the theory translates to the classroom

Theories of proximal development and social contagion suggest that group activities enhance knowledge-sharing and internalisation through feedback, discussion and the development of skills, writes Shwetha Mudabagilu Krishnappa

Shwetha Mudabagilu Krishnappa

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Feature article

.css-7qmtvr{overflow:hidden;max-height:108px;text-indent:0px;}Connecting adult learning principles, assessment and academic integrity

Ten tips when building a centralised evaluation unit

Events-based authentic assessment that can boost employability

How to make enterprise activities enjoyable and impactful

Universities need to act now to bridge the Gen Z gap

Eight fail-safe ways to build business students’ problem-solving skills

A framework to develop communities of practice

Optional extracurricular modules can enhance business students’ employability

How a strong network can enhance the PhD journey

Universities need to remember the true value of education

Embracing disagreement in research co-production

Let’s kindle the fire for discovery in our students

Using knowledge graphs to integrate social media into curricula

A sustainable strategy for educating the next generation of African youth

Managing empathy fatigue as a teacher

When it comes to digital upskilling, sharing is caring

How student learning communities support professional development

A practical guide to navigating the language of diversity

Tips for moving from learning designer to educational leader

Careers services must step up to support students with disabilities

Five ways to connect PhD students with industry

Streamlining a move from a faculty position to a leadership role

What can the new government do to strengthen academic-policy engagement?

University leaders must become entrepreneurs to address inequality

Can AI offer everyone a personal tutor 24/7?

How to become an administrator – and why you should

What simulations bring to teaching soft skills

Students need a balanced diet of assessment practices

Moving over to the dark side: academic or academic administrator?

Making sport accessible to everyone on campus

21st-century skills for HE teachers

Innovative career services for a well-prepared workforce

Develop and nurture teaching presence in a learning community

The zone of proximal development in four stages

Three key collaborations to foster digital fluency in students

Are you ready to manage?

Walking the tightrope towards tenure

For learning design projects, build the time to reflect on the past into your future

Use gamification to teach complex international relations concepts

Why I ban AI use for writing assignments

Experiencing the workplace can help students’ career readiness

Partnering with industry for authentic experiences and assessment

How environmental issues can unite and inspire diverse student groups

Five questions to consider when embedding cultural competency for internationalisation

Balancing career readiness and finances: the case for abbreviated internships

We must acknowledge our positionality to inclusively engage the community

Practical tips for graduate students undertaking a dissertation

We can face the challenge of corporatisation by embracing subversive leadership

School visits are a triple-win for academics, schools and society

The zone of proximal development: how the theory translates to the classroom

Connecting adult learning principles, assessment and academic integrity