Practical insights from and for academics and university staff
Everything you need for each step of your study abroad journey
Outreach and communication How universities can use civic engagement and collaboration to impact their local communities as well as communicating and sharing knowledge with the public
Copyright © 2025 THE - Times Higher Education. All rights reserved. Working with student activists to speed up progress towards a sustainable future
Jaime Toney explains how working with grassroots student activists can help accelerate institutional action towards the Sustainable Development Goals
How to use social media more effectively in teaching and research , part one : your recording set - up
Andy Miah shows how academics could set up their workspace to record good - quality video content for use on social media
How to start an academic YouTube channel : tips from a psychology YouTuber
YouTube is a wide - open opportunity for university teachers and researchers to share their knowledge with a broader audience , says Dennis Relojo - Howell
How to design early college programmes that foster success for under - represented students
David Dugger explains what an early college programme should focus on in order to improve outcomes for students from under - represented groups
THE podcast : ‘ Higher Ed Heroes ’ and their water - cooler chats about teaching
We speak to the academics behind the podcast ‘ Higher Ed Heroes ’ about why informal corridor conversations can be the best way for teachers to share classroom tips , advice …
Get your research out there : 7 strategies for high - impact science communication
From news angles to dealing with trolls , here are seven areas to consider when sharing your findings with the media and wider public
How to facilitate the small changes in teaching that make a big difference
Through their podcast , Alastair Stark and Sebastian Kaempf champion the ‘ sandwich conversations ’ between colleagues that lead to impactful incremental shifts …
Managing individual research productivity in academic organisations : seven key insights
Advice on steps institutions can take to boost the productivity and impact of researchers , based on a study by Olga Ryazanova and Jolanta Jaskiene
External engagement in academia : lessons from the business world
Many academics see external engagement as a chore . Others are just unable to appreciate industry perspectives . Both are stifling the contribution of universities
Academic snobs can ’ t afford to ignore LinkedIn any longer
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
IPEDS and the trouble with student metrics in the US
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System surveys hold great weight in the higher education system , but they are not inclusive enough and thus no longer …
Universities must help their communities preserve heritage languages
Language loss is a real danger among even second - generation migrants – here ’ s how to help , say Sender Dovchin and Rhonda Oliver
Using community - based research projects to motivate learning among engineering students
Trithos Kamsuwan explains how community - based research projects can be used to motivate students , creating opportunities to apply principles they have learned …
How to ensure your university ’ s branding isn ’ t 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
Reopening and reconnecting : how to establish connection with first - years studying in the …
Agnes Chikonzo offers three key ways that university services can engage students and give them a sense of belonging back on campus
How to revitalise student knowledge exchange with local communities
How co - creating an ‘ umbrella ’ programme can help institutions innovate student knowledge exchange and improve engagement with local communities and …
Dragon ’ s zen : how to handle the jump from HE to a commercial venture
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 …
In this together : developing meaningful community engagement
Anna Walas offers advice for facilitating community engagement with research by considering ways in which effective engagement design can help overcome common …
How to be comfortable with uncomfortable conversations
Ruth Woodfield outlines steps that academics , students and university staff can take to support and work through the discomfort of difficult discussions
Can universities maintain their cultural identity in a blended 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
Changing lives through community engagement and outreach
Josephine Bleach outlines questions that higher education institutions should ask to help them foster authentic community engagement that improves …
How to be a civic university : lessons in collaborating with local communities
Deborah Bull outlines how institutions can make their civic duties a strategic priority , developing mutually beneficial partnerships with local communities and …
THE podcast : how NYU and the University of S ã o Paulo are thinking about climate change
Ahead of COP26 , leaders at NYU and S ã o Paulo spoke with us about how universities can be leaders in tackling the climate crisis and what they hope the summit achieves
Engaging students in applied research to tackle Sustainable Development Goals
Jen O ’ Brien describes a pedagogical project that engages students in applied research carried out in partnership with external organisations , related to the …
Authentic leadership isn ’ t new – but we need it more than ever in HE
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
We can make research more ethical without compromising its quality
The debate on the ethics of randomised control trials isn ’ t getting us anywhere – it ’ s time for solutions , says Stefano Caria
Demystifying impact : a glossary of key terms
The extensive terminology surrounding research ‘ impact ’ can be confusing for those new to it . To help , Alex Smith and Laura Tucker have compiled a glossary of the …
Enhance your research through public engagement and collaboration
How can academics shape research around mutually beneficial public engagement and collaboration ? Emily Burns outlines the key considerations
Creative ways to boost student learning through community - based projects
Jamie Darwen explains how community projects offer creative and practical ways to enhance student learning and shares advice on building successful partnerships …
THE podcast : what is the civic role of universities post - pandemic ?
What does it mean to be a civic university in 2021 and how should institutions improve their public outreach and engagement to increase their value to wider society ?
How universities can ensure they have a positive impact on local communities
Jane Robinson offers advice on developing effective ‘ civic engagement ’ strategies to ensure universities have a positive long - term impact on local communities
How to embed public engagement into your teaching and research activities
Carenza Lewis shares a step - by - step guide for embedding public engagement into your institution ’ s research and teaching
Making large - scale civic engagement projects a reality
Matthew Andrews offers advice on how universities should approach ambitious large - scale civic engagement projects to bring plans to fruition
Three steps to successful rapid - response civic engagement with students
Kathleen Riach outlines key lessons from successfully leading a rapid - response civic engagement project with students to help over 50s gain better digital access
Directing research to engage and support local communities
Helen Szoor - McElhinney and colleagues describe how academics can shape their research around key community needs and encourage participation …
How universities can build meaningful collaborations to solve societal challenges
For universities to extend their impact and community engagement , they need to form strong partnerships with external organisations and individuals . Alicia Wilson …
Open to all ? Using our physical and digital spaces to better engage local communities
Richard Calvert explores what role universities ’ physical spaces should play in civic engagement and how digital technologies can support this
Using digital technology to assist the spread of knowledge and ideas about the SDGs
Gisela Loehlein on how digital communications can assist in spreading knowledge and awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals , through virtual global events and …
Using digital scholarship to enhance public engagement
Having been pushed to the sidelines of academia for too long , public engagement projects can take a central role in digital courses , furthering students ’ learning …