University leadership

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THE podcast: the pros and cons of AI in higher education

How should universities manage the rapid uptake of artificial intelligence across all aspects of higher education? We talk to three experts about AI’s impact on teaching, governance and the environment

Shaolei Ren, José Antonio Bowen, Shushma Patel

University of California, Riverside, Bowen Innovation Group, De Montfort University

Students celebrating graduation

Market orientation must be an institution-wide endeavour

As higher education becomes increasingly global, universities must adopt a market-orientated philosophy, balancing student needs, national priorities and competitive differentiation, writes Emily Owen

Emily Owen

THE Consultancy

An illustration of a pile of books linking to a crowd of businesspeople

Career-connected learning is an investment in the future

A strong reputation for career-connected learning can create a seamless circle for universities, with graduates happy to pave the way for others via the alumni network. But how to get started?

Audra Spicer

Colorado State University Global

A hand holding a post-it note with the word "agile" written on it

Staying agile is the key to effective HE leadership

Change is inevitable, and higher education leaders must have the agility to keep up. Here is how to go from a reactive to a proactive approach

Shuri Mariasih Gietty Tambunan

The University of Indonesia

A image of a robot wearing a mortarboard

Four objectives to guide artificial intelligence’s impact on higher education

How can higher education leaders manage both the challenge and the opportunity artificial intelligence presents? Here are four objectives to guide the way

Susan C. Aldridge

Thomas Jefferson University

Female mature age student at graduation

Imagine an age-inclusive university sector

Age inclusion should be part of universities’ mission, as well as their day-to-day operations. To not support staff and students at all stages of their academic life is an opportunity missed

Paul Harpur, Brooke Szücs, Nancy A. Pachana

The University of Queensland

A group mediation session

Setting up an in-house mediation service at your university

Want to prevent conflict escalation? Make mediation a “first resort” option

Carol Platts

The University of Manchester

People laugh round a boardroom table

Six tips when undertaking a curriculum framework review

For a curriculum framework to deliver for both students and educators, it must be regularly updated. Here are six things to remember when embarking on a framework review

Steve Briggs

University of Bedfordshire

A placard at a climate change protest reads "if you change nothing, nothing changes"

On climate change, are universities part of the problem or part of the solution?

As the effects of climate change become increasingly more extreme, fossil fuel interests are preventing transformative change. Where do universities stand?

Jennie C. Stephens

Maynooth University , Northeastern University

A computer science studeng coding on her laptop

Opening doors to computer science education

Ways to get more students from under-represented backgrounds into computer science, including offering joint undergraduate degrees and master’s degrees that require no tech background

Beth Mynatt

Northeastern University

Collaboration concept

Joining hands across institutions makes light work

Communities of practice can help overextended faculty and staff maximise programme impact and bandwidth for career practitioners

Karena Nguyen , Paola Cepeda, Anne-Sophie Bohrer, Matthew Warner

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities, Washington University in St Louis, University of Wisconsin–Madison, North Dakota State University

A student typing on their laptop with images representing study and AI superimposed over the top

Promoting ethical and responsible use of GenAI tools

How can we encourage staff and students to use generative AI in ways that do not threaten an institution’s ethics or academic integrity? Read the University of Exeter’s take

Kelly Louise Preece

The University of Exeter

Structure of teepee against blue cloudy sky

Principles of Indigenous leadership and self-care in the academy

Indigenous leadership requires resilience, humility and self-awareness. These 10 principles offer a guide to cultivating wellness and fostering a supportive community

Chris Andersen

University of Alberta

A group of people put their hands together

Five steps to decolonise your university curriculum and pave the way for a better future

How can universities reset their curricula and embrace a range of experiences? Here are five ways to start down the path of decolonisation

Steve Larkin

The University of Adelaide

Male and female figures scale a very different set of stairs to the top

We need to dismantle the promotion patriarchy in academia from the inside

Women in academia are promoted at far lower rates than their male peers and are under-represented in senior positions. To fix this, universities will need to embrace systemic change

Rachael Jefferson

Charles Sturt University

Compromise concept

Productive disagreement is our best hope of tackling the climate crisis

As complex communities with a social purpose, universities are ideal places to foster and model difficult discussions around prioritising investment and effort towards net zero goals, writes Nigel Ball

Nigel Ball

The University of the Arts London

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THE podcast: what makes an award-winning academic, university or project?

We speak to past THE Awards winners to find out about the work for which they and their institutions were recognised

Roderick Watkins, Mark Brown, Joanne Pledger, Ruth Spencer

Anglia Ruskin University, Royal Holloway, University of London, University of Central Lancashire

Hands holding the words "net Zero" against a blurred out verdant background

Strategies to move universities to net zero

How one institution is reducing energy consumption, developing low-carbon infrastructure and rethinking campus spaces to reach net zero

Scott Davidson

The University of Edinburgh

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‘If you can empower others to build connections, you can help build a thriving collaborative ecosystem’

For university administrators, part of the job is to help researchers do the cool stuff, without getting bogged down or intimidated by the forms, calendars and other paperwork, writes Marvin Washington. Here, he offers tips on how to foster interdisciplinary collaboration

Marvin Washington

University of Alberta

Woman with laptop and numbers, transformation concept

Reimagining the role of higher education in a world of intersecting revolutions

To remain relevant, universities must shift from reactive funding requests to proactive transformation, writes Rahim Somani

Rahim Somani

University of Northern British Columbia

University of Glasgow campus

Co-creation as a model for estate redevelopment

Campus redevelopment can offer an opportunity to reframe the ‘ivory tower’ image of a historic campus, without losing its sense of history, place and academic distinctiveness. Here’s how to bring in diverse stakeholder perspectives

Anton Muscatelli, Frank Coton, Karen Lee, Nicola Cameron, Moira Fischbacher-Smith

University of Glasgow

Ulster University Belfast

A new university campus as a springboard for regeneration

The development of a new Ulster University campus has been a powerful driver for regeneration and community engagement in North Belfast. Vice-chancellor Paul Bartholomew explains how

Paul Bartholomew

Ulster University

A university lecturer responds to a student's question.

Build a practitioner community to embed industry experience into your courses

Bringing industry professionals into your teaching roster brings a multitude of benefits. Lesley Pender shares insights on building a community of teacher-practitioners

Lesley Pender

University of Strathclyde

A group of students arm in arm

How to embed inclusion into the curriculum

From getting buy-in at the highest level within an institution to clearly communicating inclusivity goals, Liz Jones outlines the foundations for putting inclusion at the heart of the curriculum

Liz Jones

University of Leicester

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Equitable international research collaboration is possible – find out how

Lessons on building a successful international research collaboration founded on trust and respect between partners

Manuel Barcia

University of Leeds

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Greening your university is not optional; it’s urgent

Investing in greening your institution will result in huge savings in the long run. Here are some strategies that have worked for CETYS University

Isaac Azuz

CETYS Universidad

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THE podcast: two vice-chancellors on maintaining quality and financial stability within a university

Hear Anton Muscatelli of the University of Glasgow and Alex Zelinsky of the University of Newcastle, Australia, discuss the complexities of successfully running a university

Anton Muscatelli, Alex Zelinsky

University of Glasgow, The University of Newcastle, Australia

The evolution of a paper plane from crumpled to flying form

Ways to enhance your institution’s change agility

How to involve and empower staff to make changes that can have a big impact on their roles and the institution as a whole

Kristy-Jai Chantrey

The University of Newcastle, Australia

Elements of innovation on a blackboard

Six actionable strategies to be a successful ambidextrous leader

Ambidextrous leadership requires not only strategic planning but also a deep understanding of the needs – current and future alike – of the research group, institution or organisation. Here are six aspects to consider in its implementation

Greta Faccio, Valentina Lorenzon

Independent consultant, Independent academic

A woman studying at her laptop

Promoting online courses: five effective marketing strategies

Several ways to promote Moocs and other online courses, including a focus on email marketing and paid advertising

Luke Howard, Ari Badlishah

The University of Edinburgh

Figures attached by strings

Seven tips for successful collaborations with other institutions

Collaborating with other institutions is a complex process, but in the current education environment, it can be transformative. Here’s how to make it work for all parties involved

Sami Mohamed

Dubai Medical College for Girls

Two hands fit jigsaw puzzle pieces together

How to achieve interdisciplinary research? Focus on the people

Restructuring research domains around four communities allowed academics to find their natural home, writes Andrew Linn. Here’s how to do it

Andrew Linn

The University of Westminster

Student holding her books smiling to camera

Giving voice and taking action: equity-driven leadership

Ways for leaders of community colleges to encourage collective practices that advance equity and social justice for their institutions and the wider community

Pamela L. Eddy , Kim VanDerLinden

William & Mary, University at Buffalo

Green target on building blocks, sustainability

Three ways to create lasting change towards sustainability in your university

Progress towards sustainability falters when institutions don’t understand how change works. Here, Nicola Rieg explains how to apply concepts from organisational change management to integrate sustainability in higher education

Nicola Rieg

University of Surrey

Female lecturer at her laptop smiling to camera

Enhance inclusivity by switching to a more equitable work allocation model

A new approach to academic work allocation at the University of Newcastle promotes an inclusive working environment

Nicole Bagnall

The University of Newcastle, Australia

Team of engineers are conducting an experiment in a lab

Developing a GenAI policy for research and innovation

Establishing a framework to guide AI use in research is vital for ensuring institutions are and remain fully compliant

Helen Brownlee, Tracy Moulton

The University of East Anglia

Group of people sitting around a table at a meeting

Building blocks of a successful staff-student environmental, social and governance committee

To embed sustainability across institutions can be challenging. Find out how a staff-student environmental, social and governance committee can align priorities and drive meaningful change

Emily Centeno

ESCP Business School

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Everything you wanted to know about National Teaching Fellowships but were afraid to ask…

The UK’s National Teaching Fellowships were established to recognise excellence in teaching and student learning. Fellow James Derounian asks if the scheme fulfils its goals

James Derounian

University of Bolton

A lightbulb against a pink background

Ways to create time and mental space for strategic innovation in higher education

How higher education institutions can better position themselves to adapt and innovate

Catherine Wehlburg

Athens State University

A woman stands up in front of a boardroom table

How to navigate your first steps into leadership

Moving from colleague to taking charge can be a daunting transition. Kingsley O. Omeihe and Ibiyemi Omeihe offer advice on your first few moves as a leader

Kingsley Omeihe, Ibiyemi Omeihe

University of the West of Scotland

A young woman shakes hands over a desk

A blueprint for hiring innovative educators

Academics in Pakistan found the rules for hiring university teachers were letting well-rounded candidates, with real-world experience, slip through the cracks. Here’s how they changed and improved the situation

Asghar Zaidi

University of Oxford

Hands holding a compass

Taking on academic leadership even if you are not prepared for it

The call to leadership can come before you feel ready for a more senior role, as happened to David Waller. Here he shares what he has learned from five years as a department head

David Waller

University of Technology Sydney

A ball of paper gradually becomes a paper plane

Change is coming, whether higher education likes it or not

Universities may talk about digital transformation, but are yet to translate it into action. Here’s how to start building the momentum for change, instead of standing still

Andrew Greenway

Public Digital

Leadership concept

Growing into an academic leadership role

What qualities in new faculty members predict success in academic administrative leadership? Here, William Owen explores the traits that can see junior faculty transition effectively into more senior roles

William J. Owen

University of Northern British Columbia

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THE podcast: how technology is reshaping the 21st-century campus

When hybrid learning and immersive technology can connect and engage students working in any location, where does that leave all those lecture halls and libraries? We ask two US experts about how universities are adapting to the digital transformation

Stephen W. Harmon, Lev Gonick

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities, Arizona State University

International student concept

Taking an administrative office performance from process-focused to people-driven

Improving processes can start with an objective to help team members be happy in their jobs while supporting their office’s activities. These steps focus on staff, faculty and students rather than systems

Joanna Daaboul

Université de Technologie de Compiègne

Departures sign at an airport

It’s time: how to get your department off X

With a flurry of HE professionals leaving the platform, here’s how to notify your followers and provide alternative options for staying up to date

Ned Potter

University of York

A Black student in a lecture hall

Equity without whiteness: what leaders get wrong in pursuit of an equitable campus

How can equity be advanced within a system that protects the status quo, and how can university leaders make a difference? Jordan Harper, Rozana Carducci and Adrianna Kezar examine how

Jordan Harper, Rozana Carducci, Adrianna Kezar

Morgan State University, Elon University, University of Southern California

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THE podcast: how to prepare for university leadership

Middlesex University vice-chancellor Shân Wareing talks about the need to make the path to senior roles transparent and why confidence is not the be-all and end-all of leadership

Shân Wareing

Middlesex University

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