Research excellence

Deep dives into university research practices around the world, including supervision, community engagement, funding and publication

Man putting icing on a chocolate cake

‘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

Physical therapist treating patient

Citizen science in biomedical engineering: rewards and challenges

Harnessing citizen science to progress research enriches our findings and leads to innovative solutions to real-world problems. Addressing the potential challenges of working with non-expert volunteers from the start makes for more effective research

Robin Queen

Virginia Tech

A police offer

Influence social change with your research by building relationships

Researchers from Edinburgh Napier University needed to form relationships with a range of people when evaluating Police Scotland’s use of the drug naloxone. Here’s how they did it

Peter Hillen, Inga Heyman

Edinburgh Napier University

Sports science students

Implementing a ‘research buddy’ scheme

A novel volunteer programme has been giving students hands-on sports research experience and maintaining high standards of health safety. Here’s how it works

Sally Carter

Loughborough University

Detail of laboratory equipment

‘Changing the culture from academic-owned equipment to shared ownership is not easy’

With dedicated research technical professionals alongside equipment investments, universities can foster a culture of equipment sharing. Here, Sarah Bennett explains this key role in resource management

Sarah Bennett

The University of Warwick

A woman in a research lab looking through a microscope

Quality is the best policy in research

How to establish and promote adherence to protocols, ensure accurate and secure data handling and nurture a culture of transparency to improve the quality of research output

Srinivas Mutalik

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

A surgery takes place in an operating theatre

How we used data to reveal the extent of sexual misconduct within the UK surgical workforce

The Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery’s Breaking the Silence report hit the front pages after exposing the extent of sexual harassment among surgical staff, even taking place in operating theatres. Here’s how data were key

Carrie Newlands

University of Surrey

Sustainable research laboratory concept

How can we improve the sustainability of labs?

Small, incremental changes in how laboratories manage consumables and equipment can add up to a substantial reduction in the environmental footprint of research activities

Jenna Lowe

University of Liverpool

An underwater scene

Sharing shipwreck stories to rewrite maritime history

The story of the Gloucester shipwreck was too important to stay submerged. Here’s how academics, museum curators and the discoverers of the Gloucester wreck brought it back to the surface

Claire Jowitt

University of East Anglia

A Black man has his blood pressure taken

‘You can change the world with a haircut’: engaging communities at risk

With Black and minority ethnic communities disproportionately affected by high blood pressure, academics found innovative ways to reach them. Here’s how to launch a community outreach programme that works

Nicola Thomas

London South Bank University

Illustration of female graduate in palm of robot

Is AI literacy an information skill?

To capitalise on GenAI’s strengths, and understand its limitations, students need to develop their research and critical thinking skills in practical, embedded and subject-specific ways

Emily Dott, Terry Charlton

Newcastle University

Boy receives immunisation from medical professional.

Knowledge exchange as a driver of better health outcomes

A model for how universities can collaborate with public or private sector organisations and community groups to co-develop solutions to local problems

Amina Ismail , Vicki Doyle

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Hands holding together a jigsaw depicting the Earth

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

Plastic pollution concept

The art of change: using creative research methods to solve the plastics crisis

Incorporating theatre, music and the visual arts as research tools complements analytical and qualitative approaches to environmental challenges – and goes beyond public engagement into local and global policymaking

Cressida Bowyer

The University of Portsmouth

A wheelchair basketball player

Address the lack of research in Para sport by embedding students in doctoral programmes

The Embedded Scientist Approach places doctoral students in Para sport-focused research programmes. Vicky Goosey-Tolfrey explores the lessons she learned from implementing it

Vicky Goosey-Tolfrey

Loughborough University

Members of the Network for Persons Affected by NTDs in Liberia.

Lessons for co-producing research with affected communities

Advice on meaningfully engaging with diverse communities to co-produce research, drawn from a project looking at treatment for neglected tropical diseases in Liberia

Rosalind McCollum

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

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

Hands high-five in front of a leafy tree

Bridging the SDG awareness gap

Universities have a critical role to play in increasing awareness of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Here’s how to do it

James Miller, Andrew Hursthouse

University of the West of Scotland

Creative writing concept

A space where ideas can take shape in the creative arts

Out of writer’s block and research into the artistic process have grown a tool and a community to foster new work. Novelist Sue Woolfe describes how an international creativity bar works

Sue Woolfe

University of Sydney

Research group member taking part in performance activities

The Verbatim Formula: using creative arts for collaborative research

Find out how performance practices can support participatory research centred around emotionally charged lived experiences

Sylvan Baker, Maggie Inchley

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Queen Mary University of London

An illustration of young people putting a lighbulb together

When engaging young people in participatory research, trust is key

How can we collaborate with young people to co-produce research? Keep these three things in mind

Abigail Harrison Moore, Lauren Theweneti

University of Leeds, Sheffield Hallam University

A group of people work around an office table

Embrace the potential of dyslexic thinkers for the future of research

Academia has made progress in recognising neurodiversity, but dyslexic academics still face significant barriers. Here’s how universities can embrace cultural competency to support and unlock the potential of dyslexic thinkers

Edward Ademolu

King’s College London

Illustration of many juggling icons on unicyle

Should academics embrace ambidextrous leadership to future-proof their career?

Ambidexterity requires investing time in training that can provide the skills needed to operate in a dynamic environment but also in the future

Greta Faccio, Valentina Lorenzon

Independent consultant, Independent academic

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

University of Westminster

Children participating in outreach programme School Tasking

School Tasking: forget explosions, it’s all about the skills

Successful university outreach doesn’t always have to involve awe-inspiring explosions and colour-changing chemical reactions, but it should seek to hone key skills through dynamic and interactive activities that enable all children to shine

Ali Struthers, Alex Horne

The University of Warwick, Avalon Entertainment

woman typing on laptop, social media

How to preserve academic credibility when engaging with social media

As political expression on social media can harm public perception of scientists, strategies such as sharing research, separating personal and professional identities, and engaging objectively are ways that academics can use it effectively while preserving credibility

Eleonora Alabrese, Francesco Capozza, Prashant Garg

University of Bath, WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Imperial College London

podcast graphic

THE podcast: knowledge exchange and data management as drivers of research and innovation

The University of Oxford’s pro vice-chancellor for innovation on how universities and industry can work together for the benefit of all, plus a leading data scientist on why data needs careful handling to protect future research efforts

Chas Bountra, Sara de Freitas

University of Oxford, Birkbeck, University of London, The Open University

Webinar image

Campus webinar: How to present research to a wider audience for greater impact

Learn about ways to articulate and present your work to non-academic audiences from experts from Campus+ partner institutions in the UK and North America

Gregory Goldsmith, Patricia Raun, Denise Baden, Krystina Silva

University of Alberta, Virginia Tech, University of Southampton, Chapman University

Young female scientist working in a lab

Donors want to see real-world impact. What does that mean for higher education in the sciences?

Amid academia’s challenges related to talent retention and fundraising, universities can use translational research programmes to enhance scientific edge and real-world impact, and strengthen donor relations

Shai Shen-Orr

Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

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

University of East Anglia

The UK Houses of Parliament in Westminster

What I learned about knowledge transfer with policymakers during my parliamentary fellowship

Advice on how to share your research with the aim of maximising knowledge transfer among policymakers in parliament

Rajiv Prabhakar

The Open University

Students collecting water samples

How to bring teaching, research and knowledge exchange together

By getting students involved in real-world ‘live’ projects, academics can integrate research and knowledge exchange into teaching, resulting in positive impacts reaching far beyond the classroom, as Alan Chandler explains

Alan Chandler

University of East London

A group of people work round a table

A guide to cultivating a start-up culture in academia

To foster a start-up culture in higher education, we need to encourage risk-taking, reward innovation and get ahead of the trends. Here’s how to get started

Sadaf Majeed

Dubai Medical College for Girls

computer technician working on mainframe

Career development for technicians in higher education

Technicians need to advocate for themselves, network and seek leadership opportunities to gain the recognition they deserve, writes Mark Dabee Saltmarsh. Here, he offers career advice for the unsung heroes of higher education

Mark Dabee Saltmarsh

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Children plant and water growing plants

Plant the seeds for a rewarding balance between family and academia

Balancing the demands of family life and higher education can feel as daunting as starting a garden from scratch. But with careful planning, consistent care and the right tools, you can cultivate a thriving environment where both areas of your life flourish

John Sinclair

Colorado State University Global

Trust concept

Building trust to support researchers’ mental health

Principal investigators should know what challenges to trust their research team may face at each stage of a project – from team building to post-project collaboration – so they can focus support effectively

Alex Zarifis

University of Southampton

Students researching in a lab

Strategies to help students conceptualise their research projects

Effective conceptualisation is key when beginning any research project. Help students get off to a good start using these strategies

Adrian Man-Ho Lam

The University of Hong Kong

Two researchers discuss their findings

How to collaborate with students on research projects

Students and academic staff collaborating on research projects offers many benefits for everyone involved. Here’s how to do it

Louise Owusu-Kwarteng

University of Greenwich

Illustration of a scholar in a lightbulb hot-air balloon

The aspiring academic’s career path from PhD to professor

If you have just finished your PhD or postdoc and realised that an academic career needs more than published papers and teaching, Jan Buermann has advice on how to kick-start progress up the ladder

Jan Buermann

University of Southampton

Female researcher working on her laptop in a lab

Understanding ethics approval in academic research

The following strategies aim to streamline the ethics approval process, reduce delays and uphold the highest ethical standards

Marios Kremantzis, Fatema Zaghloul, Rushana Khusainova

University of Bristol

A scientist works at a laptop

How to handle data ethically and effectively as a social scientist

New data sources are generating vast amounts of information for researchers. But social scientists and management researchers should put robust practices in place to remain ethical

Anne ter Wal

Imperial College London

One red megaphone in line of blue, clear communication concept

Why is no one listening?

Academic ways of communicating are often the exact opposite of what you need to draw widespread attention to your research, writes Simon Hall. Here are simple ways to help your message reach its audience

Simon Hall

University of Cambridge

A group of students sit happily around a laptop in the sunshine

Making group work work: how to enable successful student collaboration

How can we help students collaborate without weighing down staff with extra admin? First-year interdisciplinary research projects could be the answer

Jillian Terry

The London School of Economics and Political Science

A scientist works at a microscope

Centralise laboratory management for better teaching and research

Creating a single department to oversee laboratory operations can streamline your processes and cut costs. Here’s how to do it

Mohd Fatimie Irzaq Khamis

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

Woman inteviewing man, looking thoughtful

Oral history for all: a research method that crosses disciplinary boundaries

Oral history’s potential to capture lesser-known perspectives and fill knowledge gaps deserves appreciation beyond the humanities

Sien van der Plank, Lareb Dean , Padmini Broomfield

University of Southampton

A robot leads a tandem bike ride

Could AI manage your research project?

The possibilities for using artificial intelligence in research know no bounds – it could even end up in a management role. Here’s what it could do

Henry Sauermann, Maximilian Köhler

ESMT Berlin

Concensus concept

Can academic prenups help overcome barriers to interdisciplinary research?

A bottom-up approach could establish shared values, objectives, risk appetites and publication strategies as ways to mitigate challenges that hinder effective progress of interdisciplinary teams

Himanshu Kaul

University of Leicester

Illustration of a carnival high striker

Key questions to help universities measure societal impact

When societal impact has so many definitions, how can higher education institutions measure it without overlap or disengagement? This coordinated approach aims to find accepted, effective common ground

Olga Ryazanova , Peter McNamara , Tatiana Andreeva

Maynooth University

Social media icons on an iPhone screen

AcademiaTok: how to inspire Generation Z with academic research

Explaining research in a short social media video is a major green flag for the Covid-19 generation. Here’s how to use existing resources to hit TikTok and Instagram

Lina Filippidi

The London School of Economics and Political Science

Networking event

How to make enterprise activities enjoyable and impactful

Incorporating knowledge exchange and enterprise activities into demanding academic schedules can be a challenge but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are ways to make it enjoyable, rewarding and impactful

Larisa Yarovaya , Jeni Giambona

University of Southampton