Practical insights from and for academics and university staff
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Mentoring How to use mentoring in teaching, research supervision and university career development: academics explain coaching, support and skills development in the mentor-mentee relationship
Copyright © 2025 THE - Times Higher Education. All rights reserved. Three ways to spot someone struggling – and six ways to support them
Institutional policies can only go so far when it comes to mental health . Find out how to spot a student or colleague in crisis – and what you can do to help
How to spark student start - ups
Universities are the ideal environment to turn ideas into businesses . Here ’ s how to encourage entrepreneurship and foster a start - up dynamic in your students
Are module leaders missing out on professional development ?
Let ’ s support module leaders with effective and engaging training opportunities . Here are five ways to do it
Nurturing supervisor - supervisee relationships
How to foster productive supervisor - supervisee relationships and address challenges when they arise
Become a better mentor by asking yourself these questions
Our mentees face a far more complex educational , social and geopolitical landscape than we did , and we must practise humility in the face of that reality , writes Maria …
Universities need to move interdisciplinary professional associations to the next step
Inter - and transdisciplinary teaching is going beyond communities of practice – but it ’ s still too small to compete with discipline - based professional associations . …
A recipe for effective undergraduate research mentorship
Strategies for giving effective feedback , addressing common challenges and fostering a supportive and productive mentor - student relationship
How to support neurodivergent postgraduate researchers
How can universities ensure PhD students of all neurotypes can thrive ? Here ’ s how to provide neurodiversity - affirmative supervision
Five ways coaching can improve the university experience of Black students
The ethnicity awarding gap continues to be an issue in UK universities , especially for Black students . Could coaching be the answer ?
Four ways to enhance the postgraduate student experience
Postgraduate students are our future colleagues – let ’ s put ourselves in their shoes . Here are four ways to help your PhD students thrive in higher education
Intercultural communication between PhD supervisors and candidates
Culture goes beyond language and national origins , so doctoral supervisors need curiosity and an open mindset in their interactions to maximise performance and …
Supporting education - focused academics on the road less travelled
Education - focused academics must often navigate an unclear career path with limited opportunities . Danijela Serbic offers advice on how to set up an educational group …
‘ I ’ ve been a research supervisor for 35 years and I ’ m still learning ’
How can we supervise our PhD students to give them the best chance of success ? Here are seven tips to keep in mind when taking on the role
Encouragement and talent development for future scientists
Secondary students need access to practical laboratory experience and career guidance . Mamta Sharma explores ways to introduce budding researchers to the …
How to succeed as an early career researcher ? Be motivated and inspire others
Pursuing a research career , especially in a competitive field such as neuroscience , requires commitment , early action , long - term goals and , above all , ongoing passion …
Setting boundaries for teachers ’ well - being
Practising self - care and saying no can help university educators manage the increasing demands of teaching and find a sustainable work - life balance
Get inboarding right in five easy steps
Internal hires don ’ t need traditional onboarding , so how do you ensure they find their feet quickly and thrive in their new position in your university ? That ’ s where …
Teaming up with students to design sustainability education
Involving students as co - creators and mentors in sustainability courses can help address differences in their understanding as well as issues such as eco - anxiety
How to help a student in mental health distress
Students are particularly vulnerable to mental health struggles , and exam time can be especially stressful . Here ’ s how to help in an emergency and how to offer long - term …
The art of balance : tips for primary carers in higher education
The dual role of primary caregivers and higher education professional is a delicate balancing act . Here are some strategies for juggling two very demanding …
Conjure the magic of learning with facilitation
When facilitating learning , planning and versatility are key . Here ’ s how to balance the two
Are you ready to be an invested mentor ?
The ‘ invested mentor ’ model takes mentorship beyond process and logistics . In this model , an effective relationship is based on connection rather than …
Create healthy relationships between faculty members for the benefit of everyone
When staff members at an institution work together amicably , student performance improves , a collaborative environment forms and the academic …
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 …
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 …
Sharpen your students ’ interview skills
The employees of the future will need to showcase their skills in job interviews . Make sure they ’ re prepared for each setting , writes Lewis Humphreys
Three tips for using capstone projects to improve employability
How can we make sure our students are workplace - ready ? Capstone projects may hold the key , writes Ardy Cheung
‘ Gender equality is more rewarding than just ticking a box ’
A whole - culture change to dismantle structural barriers has included mentoring , promotions workshops , and childcare and family leave support . Here are reflections …
How to build inclusive mentorship programmes for Black students
To create inclusive mentorship programmes for Black university students , we must ensure they are culturally relevant , address unique challenges and foster peer …
Using reflective practice to support postgraduate studies in the biosciences
Small - group workshops create space for postgraduate researchers to share ways to manage stress , impostor syndrome , feelings of isolation and student - supervisor …
Maximise your research impact through interdisciplinary collaboration
What ’ s the best way to achieve research impact ? Qingyan Chen makes the case for an interdisciplinary approach
Researchers need support to change the world – here ’ s how to provide it
To generate world - changing research , the Hong Kong Polytechnic University ’ s Research and Innovation Office took on the role of fostering collaboration and …
How can we embed inclusion in our research culture for postgraduate researchers ?
Small , systemic changes can help universities make their research community more welcoming and collaborative . Here , Maisha Islam looks at four actions to consider – …
How to help young women see themselves as coders , inventors and engineers
Female students can be overlooked in STEM fields . Janille Smith - Colin shares four ways to empower tomorrow ’ s engineering leaders to find their voice and the …
Four ways to create an entrepreneurial culture at your institution
Universities are perfectly placed to help start - ups get off the ground . Alan Murray , Robert Crammond and Kingsley Omeihe advise on how best to get your …
When good enough is not enough
Back your own abilities and let your talents be seen , writes Verna Yiu . Here , she shares lessons from her own career journey on how women can increase opportunities for …
Build yourself a life raft by establishing a strong mentor relationship
Mentorship can offer a place of stability amid the choppy waters of a new role . Ibiyemi Omeihe explains how to find your new guide
The transformative power of mentoring in historically black colleges and universities
HBCUs ’ culture of generosity and community has much to offer all colleges and universities , write Marybeth Gasman and Levon T . Esters . Here , they distill their …
Targeted support to enhance retention among first - generation students
Outreach initiatives and support programmes can address first - generation students ’ challenges , such as belonging and financial literacy , while increasing …
How to build trust as a research supervisor
Building trust is a crucial foundation of the supervisor - supervisee relationship . Kingsley Omeihe argues it ’ s a two - way process
What does a research supervisor do ?
Research supervisors must learn to be authentic mentors , as well as sharing their experience and knowledge . Robert Crammond reflects on his time in the role
Leveraging internships to empower first - generation students
Professional placements – whether paid or unpaid – offer practical , hands - on experiences aligned with students ’ academic pursuits and help level the playing …
How to foster PhD excellence
How can PhD supervisors help early career researchers blossom ? Support them with finding funding opportunities , understand each doctoral candidate ’ s motivations and …
Research supervisor or tour guide ?
Reflecting on her own PhD journey as a supervisor and student , Ruth Northway offers her key signposts and mapping techniques to help candidates reach their destinations
Five ways to support PhD students ’ well - being
Doctoral researchers are often absent from university discussions around well - being support , writes Jenny Mercer . Here , she argues that their situation requires bespoke …
Advice for supervising a PhD by published works
The route to a PhD by published works requires a different approach to supervision . Here , Alison Brettle provides aspects to consider based on her …
Celebrating failure and other advice for PhD supervisors
PhD researchers should be given space to work independently , share their results and test their own limits with the support of supervisors who see them as …
Five steps to finding effective mentors in academia
Five steps to help you find a mentor who aligns with your goals and can help you achieve academic success
How can PhD researchers be supported to complete an alternative format thesis ?
How universities can best support PhD researchers who wish to produce alternative format theses , based on a review of institutional policies
THE podcast : how to be a good mentor and mentee
Contributors from across the globe offer their advice on how to make these critical relationships work for everyone involved