Leadership & management

Advice on using music as a way to bring students together and rebuild a sense of community on campus

Play on: how to build community on campus through music

Nick Merwitzer explains why and how music projects can help build a sense of connection and belonging on campus and outlines the key considerations for supporting student ‘bands’

Nick Merwitzer

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Lighthouse illustrating thought leadership

How thought leadership can build your institution’s reputation online

Will Harvey explains how institutions can use research proactively to enhance the perception of their capabilities and character

Will Harvey

University of Exeter

Building equitable scientific research partnerships with the global south requires trust and equality in decisionmaking

Creating equitable research partnerships across continents

Shabbar Jaffar provides tips for successful international collaborations built on trust, appropriate recognition and inclusiveness in decision-making

Shabbar Jaffar

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Cancel culture, difficult conversations

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

Ruth Woodfield

University of St Andrews

Woman explaining to student pointing to a computer screen

Strangers in a strange land: how supervisors can support international research students

Ravinder Anand-Ivell explains how early investment of time and empathy can help international postgraduate research students adapt to a new environment

Ravinder Anand-Ivell

University of Nottingham

Advice on using top-down and bottom-up approaches to create a collaborative staff training programme

Fostering collaboration in staff training through a top-down and bottom-up approach

Gustavo Espinoza-Ramos explains how pairing top-down and bottom-up approaches to staff development can promote collaborative learning among university staff at all levels

Gustavo Espinoza Ramos

University of Westminster

Advice on supporting innovation in teaching practices among faculty

How can we support innovation in teaching practices within universities?

As the inaugural director of her university’s ‘education incubator’, Sarah Dyer shares insight on supporting teaching innovation among your faculty

Sarah Dyer

University of Exeter

Webinar discussion how to reduce student drop out rates in the context of the pandemic and online learning

Behavioural change for sustainable development

Four European academics explore how universities can encourage positive behaviour change among students in line with the Sustainable Development Goals

Thijs Bosker, Khatereh Ghasemzadeh, Marc Le Menestrel, Jakob Stoustrup

Leiden University, University of Bologna, INSEAD , Aalborg University

Podcast discussing building resilience and protecting well-being among university staff and students

THE podcast: the big ideas behind microcredentials

Two experts in flexible learning programmes discuss the evolution and adoption of alternative teaching models and credentials in higher education

Tim Blackman, Kemi Jona

The Open University, Northeastern University

Advice for universities on developing their lifelong learning strategies

Developing flexible lifelong learning in line with changing needs and opportunities 

Jonathan Michie shares insight to help institutions develop lifelong learning strategies that meet the need for flexible and relevant educational programmes

Jonathan Michie

University of Oxford

Advice on developing effective lifelong learning programmes

Covid as a catalyst: deepening lifelong learning

Miriam Green and Susanna Leong share key considerations for universities to develop effective lifelong learning programmes that will keep pace with the rapid changes across higher education

Miriam Jacqueline Green, Susanna HS Leong

National University of Singapore

Research backed advice on managing different national cultures to encourage engagement with learning technology

How does national culture affect the adoption of learning technology?

Na Li, Xiaojun Zhang and Maria Limniou offer tips to counter the hidden cultural and social factors that reduce acceptance of virtual learning environments, based on their research

Na Li, Xiaojun Zhang, Maria Limniou

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Advice on delivering far reaching faculty development training in blended learning

A model for developing global expertise in blended learning

Daniella Bo Ya Hu outlines a framework for building expertise in blended learning using lessons in capacity development, staff incentivisation and leadership learned from an international pilot training programme

Daniella Bo Ya Hu

The Association of Commonwealth Universities

Advice on creating a university research culture that is accessible, transparent and reproducible

Eight ways your university can make research culture more open

Parveen Yaqoob and Robert Darby share eight actions institutions can take to foster a culture of research that is more accessible, transparent and reproducible

Parveen Yaqoob, Robert Darby

University of Reading

Podcast discussing building resilience and protecting well-being among university staff and students

THE podcast: bridging higher education’s new digital divide

Lauren Herckis from Carnegie Mellon University discusses her research into the new digital divide in ed-tech knowledge and pedagogical training among faculty and how universities can work to fill it

Lauren Herckis

Carnegie Mellon University

Considerations for embedding public engagement into your research projects

Enhance your research through public engagement and collaboration

Emily Burns outlines the key considerations for shaping research around mutually beneficial public engagement and collaboration

Emily Burns

Queen Mary University of London

Microsoft Teams can be a useful tool for the modern university academic

Creating a virtual research centre ecosystem using Microsoft Teams

To the busy academic, it may seem like yet another system to learn. But Amy Conley Wright and Betty Luu explain how a team-working platform can aid communication long after the pandemic

Amy Conley Wright, Betty Luu

University of Sydney

A glossary to explain the terminology associated with research impact work

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 most common terms

Alex Smith, Laura Tucker

Vertigo Ventures

Advice on how institutions can support professional development among academic researchers

Developing research skills post-pandemic: creating space for reflection and conversation

Three research advisers share advice on how institutions should support researchers to develop their professional skills and confidence post-pandemic

Jennifer Boyle, Rachel Herries, Joanna Royle

University of Glasgow

Insight on funding options for arts and humanities research

The arts and humanities have not been forgotten: finding funding post-pandemic

Edward Harcourt on why the arts and humanities are vital to tackling societal challenges and what funding streams are available to research within these disciplines

Edward Harcourt

Arts and Humanities Research Council

Podcast discussing building resilience and protecting well-being among university staff and students

THE podcast: what’s needed to successfully scale higher education?

How can universities meet the growing global demand for higher education, increasing access to a wider pool of students while maintaining the quality of their teaching and learning?

Ian Jacobs, Jude Sheeran

UNSW Sydney

Advice on distilling the lessons of the last 18 months to inform future strategic plans

Don’t lose the lesson: planning design to future-proof higher education

Patrick Sanaghan explains how universities can distil the lessons of the past 18 months of crisis to inform strategic future plans

Patrick Sanaghan

The Sanaghan Group

Step by step advice on embedding public engagement into university research and teaching

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

Carenza Lewis

University of Lincoln

Webinar discussion how to reduce student drop out rates in the context of the pandemic and online learning

Silver linings: lessons from the Covid-19 crisis

Three leaders in global higher education explore what the pandemic has taught us about higher education and how universities can carry those lessons forward as they look to rebuild

John Fritz, Tawana Kupe, Jan Palmowski

University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Pretoria, The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities

Advice on creating new internship opportunities that benefit students and employers

Creating internship opportunities: showing employers the value in humanities and social sciences

Jonathan Sim describes how he engaged with local employers to open internship opportunities to humanities and social sciences students who would not previously have been considered

Jonathan Sim

National University of Singapore

Advice on shaping research around community needs

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 from multidisciplinary faculty, students and local people

Helen Szoor-McElhinney, Alette Willis, Liam Gilchrist

The University of Edinburgh

Podcast discussing building resilience and protecting well-being among university staff and students

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?

Jeremy Read, Carenza Lewis

University of Winnipeg, University of Lincoln

Three things to consider ahead of returning to campus

Three things to think about when returning to campus

Emily Walker puts forward three key considerations to help staff mentally prepare themselves for returning to a campus that may have a very different look and feel

Emily Walker

Liverpool John Moores University

Advice on leading ambitious university civic engagement projects

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

Matthew Andrews

University of Gloucestershire

Advice on selecting the right ed-tech tools to support your teaching and learning

A guide to selecting the right ed-tech tools for your university 

Vikas Nand Kumar Batheja presents the key considerations and questions to ask when selecting new technological tools to support your teaching and university support services

Vikas Nand Kumar Batheja

Capital University College

Advice on developing a strategy for effective civic engagement

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

Jane Robinson

Newcastle University

Advice on building meaningful collaborations for better community and civic engagement

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 shares seven guiding principles that support successful collaboration

Alicia Wilson

Johns Hopkins University

Using university physical and digital spaces to better engage local communities

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

Richard Calvert

Sheffield Hallam University

Managing future trends in higher education to get the best outcomes for students

Rethinking higher education in Asia post-pandemic: five key trends

Allan Yuen Hoi-kau highlights five trends to look out for as higher education in Asia evolves post-pandemic, and shares tips on striking a balance between technology and learning objectives

Allan Yuen Hoi-kau

Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education

Advice on how faculty should be mindful of their attitudes in order to ensure better outcomes or reaction to challenges

How resetting motivations can help faculty achieve better teaching and well-being during challenging times

Faculty members’ personal motivations impacted their attitudes towards meeting the challenges of the pandemic, and in turn, their well-being and teaching quality, research suggests

Martin Daumiller, Raven Rinas, Julia Hein, Stefan Janke, Oliver Dickhäuser, Markus Dresel

University of Augsburg, University of Mannheim

Advice for meeting the needs of students in the MENA region

Meeting student needs in the MENA region through digital transformation

Barbar Akle, Rula Diab and George Nasr describe ways universities in the Middle East and North Africa can meet the needs of their students by embracing digital transformation and internationalisation

Barbar Akle, Rula Diab, George Nasr

Lebanese American University

Webinar discussion how to reduce student drop out rates in the context of the pandemic and online learning

Harnessing technology to support graduate employability

Academics and graduate recruitment experts discuss how digital education can best be used to support students in gaining the skills they will need in the future workplace

Andy Coxall, Stephen Isherwood, Chris Moule, Paul Marshall, Riddi Viswanathan

Common Purpose Student Experiences, The Institute of Student Employers, Robert Gordon University, University of East London , Generation Purple

Webinar discussion how to reduce student drop out rates in the context of the pandemic and online learning

What is the secret to quality control in online teaching?

Four higher education professionals discuss what universities and faculty can, or should, do to ensure a top quality digital teaching across their institutions

Helen Carmichael, Joshua Fleming, David Lefevre, Gunter Saunders

University of Southampton, Office for Students, Imperial College London, University of Westminster

Webinar discussion how to reduce student drop out rates in the context of the pandemic and online learning

Five big questions about the future of digital education

Four leading academics tackle five questions about online education covering assessment, content creation, data protection, digital natives and the future of universities

Ellie Dommett, Rob Freathy, Allison Littlejohn, Tim O'Shea

King’s College London, University of Exeter, University College London, Kortext

Advice on the guidance available to frame responsible use of learner analytics to improve students' university experience

Responsible use of learning analytics to improve the university experience

Rebecca Ferguson presents useful guidelines and frameworks for using learner analytics safely and effectively to inform improvements to teaching and student services

Rebecca Ferguson

The Open University

Guidance on responsible collection and use of student data to enhance online teaching

Secure and transparent use of student data

Bronwen Swinnerton and James Pickering outline the steps all universities should take to ensure ethical and transparent collection and use of student data via ed-tech platforms

Bronwen Swinnerton, James Pickering

University of Leeds

Guidance on ensuring the cybersecurity of your online teaching and ed-tech

Cybersecurity in online learning

Mohammed Rehman explains what steps universities should take to educate staff and students about cybersecurity and how to protect themselves when teaching and learning online

Mohammed Rehman

Arden University

Move marking online to reduce waste paper at your university

Greener assessment: transitioning to online marking

Universities should lead by example on sustainability issues, looking at what they can do to shrink their environmental impact. Here, Ling Xia and Yao Wu outline a project that could herald a major reduction in their institution’s paper consumption

Ling Angela Xia , Yao Wu

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Podcast discussing building resilience and protecting well-being among university staff and students

THE podcast: student employability post-pandemic

How can universities prepare students for a post-Covid workplace?

Anton Muscatelli, Nancy Gleason

University of Glasgow, New York University Abu Dhabi

Webinar discussion how to reduce student drop out rates in the context of the pandemic and online learning

How to embed the SDGs into your online teaching and learning

Academics and experts in sustainability look at how universities can harness online teaching to advance the aims of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals

Fernando Reimers, Natalie Kopytko, Tara Ivanochko

Harvard University, University of Leeds, University of British Columbia

How online education platforms can facilitate progress to address the sustainability development goals

How to ensure online education is a clear win for the SDGs

Online teaching offers many opportunities to drive education and awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals. Ellen Touchstone explains how

Ellen Touchstone

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Webinar discussion how to reduce student drop out rates in the context of the pandemic and online learning

THE Live US 2021: Overcoming leadership challenges in digital teaching

Provosts at four US institutions discuss their leadership styles, the future of online teaching and how to balance the often competing agendas of governments, students and internal stakeholders

Emily Carter, Steven McLaughlin, Jeffrey Holm, Sunil Kumar

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of North Dakota, Johns Hopkins University

How Southampton University supported staff across all departments to design quality online courses

How to support staff across all departments to design quality online courses

The sudden shift to online forced university staff to rethink and redesign classes often with little experience or knowledge of remote teaching. Helen Carmichael and Bobbi Moore explain how the University of Southampton supported all faculties to ensure high-quality online courses

Helen Carmichael, Bobbi Moore

University of Southampton

Strategies for scaling up quality online courses in higher education

Strategies for scaling up quality online courses in higher education

As remote and blended learning models look set to remain in place, universities need to consider how to scale online courses while maintaining quality. Michael Fried and Jenna Joo outline three effective scaling strategies

Michael Fried , Jenna Joo

Ithaka S+R

Engaging staff for sustainable change

Engaging staff to drive sustainable change

Universities need buy-in from staff when implementing major change. Phil Collins talks about how to keep everyone engaged and invested in their work for long-term success

Phil Collins

Brunel University London

Underpinning change with strong stable values that remain constant

How strong, stable values can enable sustainable teaching transformation

Change can be disorienting but if it is underpinned by strong, stable values that remain constant, it is more likely to get staff buy-in and prove successful, Claire Taylor explains

Claire Taylor

Wrexham Glyndŵr University

Advice on supporting the well-being of overworked academics

Supporting academia’s well-being during Covid-19 and beyond

With an unprecedented global mental health crisis and rising stress among university staff, six academics come together to propose how best to support faculty and new ways of working now and well beyond the pandemic

June Gruber, Lisa Miracchi, Sabrina Marques, Kirk Ambrose, Becca Ciancanelli, Paulo Boggio

University of Colorado Boulder, University of Pennsylvania, Western Connecticut State University, Mackenzie Presbyterian University

Advice on building durable links between faculty and digital design teams to improve online teaching

Building durable links between faculty and educational development teams

Learning designer Alexandra Mihai on how to build bonds between faculty and educational developers that translate into high-quality learning experiences

Alexandra Mihai

University College London

Five pillars to offering an effective multifaceted education online

The five pillars of a quality online education

Raj Kumar describes five key pillars universities must build on to ensure end-to-end, effective delivery of quality online education

Raj Kumar

O.P. Jindal Global University

Advice for stressed academics on managing workloads

This is not normal: advice for stressed academics

With the overhaul of teaching, soaring workloads, childcare demands and other challenges presented by Covid-19, many academics are at risk of burn-out. Psychology professor Jay Van Bavel outlines steps that stressed lecturers can take to manage workloads

Jay Van Bavel

New York University

Build peer support networks to help staff navigate digital teaching

Building peer support networks to help staff navigate digital teaching

Kay Yeoman and Alicia McConnell explain how the University of East Anglia has used peer support networks to ensure all university staff have access to the advice, support and training they need to deliver quality online teaching

Kay Yeoman, Alicia McConnell

University of East Anglia

Webinar discussion how to reduce student drop out rates in the context of the pandemic and online learning

Understanding attrition: what can be done to reduce student dropouts post pandemic?

How has the pandemic affected student dropout rates? And what can universities can do to boost student retention now and in the future? We discuss student attrition with a panel of experts from the UK and Australia

Sally Kift, Jacqueline Stevenson, David Woolley

The Australian Learning and Teaching Fellows, University of Leeds, Nottingham Trent University

Where to focus training and resources upskill staff for digital teaching

Your greatest asset: how to focus efforts to upskill staff

Online teaching demands new pedagogical and digital skills among faculty, so universities need to consider how best to focus training and resources, as Susanna Kohonen explains

Susanna Kohonen

University of Eastern Finland

Webinar graphic

Digital first: how to thrive in HE’s online future

Four leading academics from around the world discuss how universities can harness technology to enhance their teaching and learning, at the virtual launch of THE Campus

Kylie Readman, Erle Lim, Moira Fischbacher-Smith, Gary Grant

Murdoch University, National University of Singapore, University of Glasgow, Griffith University

Tips for training university staff in digital teaching skills

Steps universities should take to support staff with digital teaching

For many academics, the move to online education has been a leap into the unknown. Gunter Saunders explains what institutions can do to support and train staff in this new mode of teaching, for the present and future

Gunter Saunders

University of Westminster

How to create a centralised online advice resource for instructors moving their courses online

Creating a centralised advice resource to help faculty adapt to new teaching modalities

To assist staff in adjusting courses to new online and hydrid teaching modes, the University of Arizona created a centralised information and advice resource. Here is a summary of how they did it and the key considerations and lessons learned

Ingrid Novodvorsky , Lisa Elfring

University of Arizona

Michael Crow, president of ASU, shares his thoughts on universities' digital transformation

ASU president Michael Crow on the future of online learning in higher education

Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University, speaks to THE editor John Gill about the future of higher education in a digital world

Michael Crow

Arizona State University

How to manage your busyness to avoid burnout

How to manage your busyness to avoid burnout

Overwork and stress are growing issues among academics, particularly following the sudden transition to online teaching. Erin Wilson talks through how she manages her busyness to avoid burnout

Erin Wilson

University of Groningen

Illustration of remote learning

Balancing the needs of students, faculty and institutions when designing online courses

Students, faculty members and institutions all have different goals from their teaching and learning programmes. Thomas Cavanagh explains how to balance the needs of key stakeholders when developing online courses

Thomas Cavanagh

University of Central Florida

Digital Teaching Survey special report

Download the Digital Teaching Survey special report

Download a full PDF of Times Higher Education's Digital Teaching Survey special report

Miranda Prynne

Campus

Learn how to create online teaching principles that actually help faculty

Creating online teaching principles that actually help faculty

Amanda Sykes talks about how to develop online teaching resources around a set of simple guiding principles that are immediately accessible and helpful for faculty trying to get to grips with new digital pedagogies

Amanda Sykes

University of Glasgow

University leaders discuss the challenges and lessons from rapidly moving their services online

On the leading edge? Transitioning to digital campuses during a global crisis

Four university and college leaders share insight on transitioning to digital services during the Covid-19 pandemic and discuss what they have learned

Douglas Becker, Freeman Hrabowski, Susan McCahan, Thuy Thi Nguyen

Cintana Education, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Toronto, Foothill College

What has been learned so far in the rapid transition to digital teaching and learning?

Lessons from navigating the digital pivot

Having reopened for a new academic year, universities are now looking ahead to how they can deliver the best possible online teaching for the longer term. Here, Robert MacIntosh highlights what has been learned so far in the rapid transition to digital teaching and learning

Robert MacIntosh

Heriot-Watt University

Illustration of using technology at work

Top tips for selecting and implementing new technologies

Effective technology is now instrumental to the successful performance of universities at every level. Here, Chris Cobb offers his top tips on what to consider when choosing and implementing new systems

Chris Cobb

University of London

Advice on managing strong emotional responses to difficult student communications

It’s been emotional: how to manage difficult student interactions

Student advisers often bear a heavy emotional burden when trying to assist students. Meg Cohen offers advice on how to manage such emotionally challenging situations

Meg Cohen

Georgetown University

Illustration of a man sitting on an hourglass

How Duke Kunshan University transitioned to online learning in two weeks

Faced with the rapid spread of Covid-19 on its doorstep, Duke Kunshan University in China decided to move all its teaching online in just two weeks to finish the third term. Here, we look at how this was achieved and the lessons they learned

Kevin Guthrie, Catharine Bond Hill, Martin Kurzweil, Cindy Le

Ithaka S+R , Duke Kunshan University