Supporting education-focused academics on the road less travelled

Share and ignite passion: Building a team with a shared passion for education and the development of students and colleagues is key. Encourage meaningful discussions within your group and maintain a positive, engaged team culture. It is about being on a collaborative and enjoyable journey.

Start small, think big: Initial projects don’t need to be large-scale. The first THESIS initiative was a student blog competition focused on employability, inviting third-year students to write about their work experiences. We published several blogs on the THESIS website, a simple yet impactful initiative that benefited the blog authors, readers and the THESIS team.

Over time, we developed many more initiatives of varying sizes, culminating in our first national educational conference last summer. The blog initiative is still ongoing, with many student and staff contributions on a range of educational topics.

Create an online platform to showcase initiatives: Consider asking your institution for support in setting up an online platform, or recruit student volunteers who can act as content assistants. This not only supports your initiative, but also helps students gain transferable skills and enhances their employability.

Structuring an educational group and its initiatives

Start by identifying key educational areas for your group, understanding that these may evolve over time. This structure can be shaped by current higher education demands and the needs of your colleagues and students.

For example, THESIS focuses on four core areas: student academic support; equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and well-being; outreach and external engagement; and staff support. A well-defined structure is important for several reasons:

Developing a pedagogic identity: For education-focused academics, establishing a specialised pedagogic identity can be challenging, especially if education is not their primary research area. Developing a pedagogic identity through relevant research and scholarship is crucial for progressing in an education-focused career.

Within the THESIS group, we prioritise initiatives that support this approach, advising members to consider projects that align with their interests and career goals. A clear focus on specific educational areas within your group will facilitate this process.

Providing leadership opportunities: Assign leadership roles within each educational area. In THESIS, each core area has both a leader and co-leader, creating valuable leadership roles that support career development.

Additionally, it’s advisable to designate leaders for each initiative or project, regardless of its size. This structure not only provides members with leadership experience but also ensures effective management of projects.

For example, last year, two THESIS members won a university teaching prize for leading large-scale initiatives focused on student well-being and employability. These initiatives led to conference presentations, publications and even adoption by four other departments in our school. Both initiatives were co-created or co-produced with students, enhancing their transferable skills and boosting their employability.

Involving students: Co-creation is increasingly prioritised in higher education, as it is invaluable for initiatives addressing student needs. Select student collaborators through a fair, formal process to ensure equal opportunity, and provide adequate training to prepare them for these roles. Our recent paper outlines training best practices based on an event we co-produced with students. Many THESIS initiatives are, which not only strengthens our initiatives but also enhances student employability and experience.

Involving research-focused colleagues: Bridging the gap between research and teaching benefits everyone. View research-focused colleagues as allies who can add value to your initiatives. Consider how your educational projects can support their teaching development, and actively discuss these mutual benefits. Even simple involvement, such as mingling with students or giving short talks at your events, can benefit both parties.

Fostering engagement

Motivating already busy colleagues to participate in extracurricular initiatives can be challenging. I share this concern and am always mindful of it. For me, the key is to create a supportive, enjoyable environment in which members feel valued and view THESIS as a welcoming space, not an obligation. Here are some strategies to keep members engaged and motivated:

Offer flexible involvement: Avoid imposing or expecting involvement. Let group members decide what, when and how much they contribute.

Encourage passion and career-driven participation: Support members in pursuing initiatives that align with their passions and career aspirations.

Promote leadership opportunities: Encourage members to take the lead on initiatives, fostering a sense of ownership.

Lead by example: Model commitment and enthusiasm to inspire others.

Hold dedicated sessions: Schedule awaydays and writing retreats to brainstorm ideas and design initiatives.

Build community: Foster a sense of belonging and teamwork within the group.

Celebrate achievements: Celebrate both individual and team accomplishments to reinforce positive contributions.

Bringing education-focused colleagues together can enhance their career development and foster a sense of value and empowerment. This approach will also greatly benefit their students and the institution as a whole.

Danijela Serbic is professor in psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London. She was shortlisted in the Most Innovative Teacher of the Year category in the 2024 THE Awards. A full list of nominees can be found here. 

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