Student engagement

Academics and university staff address what student engagement means to them and offer advice on boosting attendance, class participation and building a campus community.

Students work together round a table

The Portfolio Club: an extracurricular activity to support students’ employability

Strengthen the work readiness of your biomedical science students by supporting them to begin work on their training portfolios early. Here’s how

Tahmina Hussain

University of Salford

A student walks into a library, wearing headphones

‘Our strength lies in our small size’: how to offer more as a small, specialist academic library

Libraries in small institutions don’t have to do things the same way as their larger counterparts. Here are five ways to cultivate a student-focused approach to provide bespoke support

Sarah d'Ardenne

Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM)

School taskers hosting a session

Snails, Jaffa Cakes and rubber ducks: making outreach playful

Outreach initiatives like ‘School Tasking’ show how academics can break down barriers, engage young learners, and make higher education feel accessible rather than intimidating

Ali Struthers, Alex Horne

The University of Warwick

An exam in progress

Three strategies to close the exam feedback gap

Exams are still a common choice of assessment, but do they really offer the feedback students need? Here’s how to make exam feedback impactful

Edd Pitt, Naomi Winstone

University of Kent, University of Surrey

A librarian guides a student

Three ways to hone your university library services for ultimate student satisfaction

Ditch the doughnuts and cut your cloth – find out the small changes that can have a big impact on student satisfaction in their university library

Karen Lloyd, Ruth Clark

University of Chichester

A student struggles in class

Embrace mistakes in your teaching and help your students learn from them

Incorporating mistakes into your teaching can be transformative. Here’s how to introduce the idea of failing to your students in a controlled environment

Özen Çatal

Near East University

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Campus talks: how to unlock motivation and beat procrastination in your students and yourself

Two academic researchers and lecturers discuss the many factors that boost short- and long-term motivation and how to get yourself started when procrastination threatens

Ian Taylor, Helena Seli

Loughborough University, University of Southern California

An unseen driver at the wheel of a car

From ‘sage on the stage’ to ‘guide on the side’

With GenAI, changing job markets and overprotective parenting shaping today’s learners, higher education must balance knowledge with fostering autonomy – without letting independence go too far, says Daniella Sieukaran

Daniella Sieukaran

Dalhousie University

Students use their phones

What your students are thinking about artificial intelligence

GenAI has been quickly adopted by students, but the consequences of using it as a shortcut could be grave. A study into how students think about and use GenAI offers insights into how teaching might adapt

Florencia Moore, Agostina Arbia

Universidad Austral

Black male student in academic meeting

Can you see me? Can you hear me?

With in-person, online and hybrid supervision of master’s dissertations now common, which works best? Here, Alun Epps offers reflections and advice for new supervisors

Alun Epps

University of Reading

A young woman works at her laptop at the library

Integrating the university library into teaching and learning: why and how

Where is the library positioned within your institutional structure? Steve Briggs makes the case for integrating it into the teaching and learning unit

Steve Briggs

University of Bedfordshire

Podcast microphones

Reflections on impact and co-creation in academic podcasting

What are researchers to do when conversations around vital topics such as the future of democracy are not reaching beyond academia? An academic podcast has proved effective in taking the conversation to the public and policymakers

Jessica Sutherland, Keith Hyams

The University of Warwick

Young woman using graphical interface

How AI can drive tailored learning

GenAI should be implemented in a way that enhances business students’ problem-solving skills without eroding the human element of learning, writes Andreas Rausch

Andreas Rausch

University of Mannheim

Students raise their hands in a lecture hall

Seven strategies to fuel students’ motivation

Keep your students motivated – not just for one class, but across a whole term. Find out seven ways to build sustainable motivation in the classroom

Hanife Bensen Bostanci

Near East University

Young male teaching assistant with two college students

Motivation by design: faculty-led strategies for learning that matters

Apps or algorithms alone won’t drive the students of the future to learn. Rather, it will be faculty domain expertise that aligns with how they think, work and learn. Margaret Ellis explains how to design learning for student motivation

Margaret Ellis

Virginia Tech

Illustration of figures looking at barrier and arrow

The craft and politics of academic writing in the AI universe

Writing lecturers will not reach students by simply talking down artificial intelligence. A more effective approach involves embracing our expertise and engaging in the politics of resistance, says Jane Bottomley

Jane Bottomley

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Female college students working together in class

Old-fashioned methods to circumvent student overuse of AI? Maybe

Higher education teaching faculty are exploring the use of old-school teaching and testing methods to prevent students from using artificial intelligence during exams and for homework. Is this a good idea? Cayce Myers takes a deep dive

Cayce Myers

Virginia Tech

Blocks with heads and lightbulbs in an arc

What can the university sector learn from block teaching?

Once seen as a pedagogical experiment, the block plan is ready for its researchers and practitioners to move beyond self-examination and share their innovations with the wider higher education community, writes John Weldon

John Weldon

Victoria University

A student on her laptop

How to boost student motivation and engagement in virtual classrooms

Practical strategies – from clear communication and visual resources to community building and inclusive pedagogy – to help educators foster participation and motivation in digital learning

Adela Vega Guerra, Angeles Carolina Aguirre-Acosta

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Students working on a film treatment with a camera in hand

How an AI video competition can enhance student engagement

A competition tasking first-years with making explainer videos is boosting engagement, deepening understanding and giving students valuable hands-on AI experience. See how

Xi Chen

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Two people write on a whiteboard

Two heads are better than one: a practical guide to co-teaching

Co-teaching can benefit not only students and academics, but administrative staff as well. Here, Dinara Pisareva and Andrei Semenov explain how to find a compatible partner, plan and navigate when educators’ approaches diverge

Dinara Pisareva, Andrey Semenov

Nazarbayev University

A class full of students from behind, with one raising their hand to answer a question

Beyond grades: rethinking student motivation in the GenAI era

Discover inclusive, creative and sustainable strategies, from playful learning and visual tools to culturally relevant teaching and co-created assessments, to better motivate today’s students

Yusra Siddiqui , Alison Hill

The University of Exeter

A professor takes a question during a lecture

How to motivate students? The answer hasn’t changed

We all know how to motivate students – it’s putting theory into practice that’s the problem. Understanding how motivation works can help

Ian Taylor

Loughborough University

University students working on a group project

Four simple steps to running a successful team task

In this video, Lauren Vicker and Tim Franz explain the key stages and considerations to help university educators run more effective group projects

Lauren Vicker, Tim Franz

St. John Fisher University

Two students working on a laptop together

From static to dynamic: how a Moodle plugin makes tutorials more interactive

Transforming quizzes from static assessments into live learning tools, JazzQuiz enables real-time feedback, anonymous participation and adaptive teaching, fostering deeper engagement, dialogue and understanding

Ying Feng

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Multiracial group of students

Greeting first-year university students with ‘structured serendipity’

Students start university with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Institutions should address that emotional landscape early – to help incoming cohorts adjust to newfound independence, discover what it takes to succeed academically and find their place to belong

Stephen Biscotte

Virginia Tech

A lecturer is illuminated by the stage lights

The lecture is dead – long live the performance

An electrifying lecture can still engage students and bring them together in a way ChatGPT can’t compete with. Discover the key elements of stagecraft and how to apply them to your lecture performances

Matthew Alford, Thommie Gillow

University of Bath

A student working on her laptop

Miro and GenAI as drivers of online student engagement

A set of practical strategies for transforming passive online student participation into visible, measurable and purposeful engagement through the use of Miro, enhanced by GenAI

Jaime Eduardo Moncada Garibay

CETYS Universidad

Students working on a COIL project in class

Five tips for running a successful COIL project

Discover ways to encourage collaboration, nurture curiosity and equip students with the skills they need to succeed in collaborative online learning projects

Gareth J. Williams, Glenn A. Williams

Nottingham Trent University

Students gather on campus for the first time

Connect new students through the three Ts: teams, talking and Telegram

Find out how to help new students build connections with their peers and communicate with their professors, using these three tips

Kenneth Wai-Ting Leung

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

AI in education

Faced with GenAI, educators’ engagement capacity matters more than ever

As universities prepare students for a future shaped by GenAI, the challenge is to use technology as a co-pilot while fostering skills that AI cannot replace: critical thinking, creativity and ethical reasoning

Thomas Menkhoff

Singapore Management University

A teacher engages with the class

Three strategies to get students back to the classroom

Students’ disengagement with in-person learning seems to be lingering far beyond the pandemic. Find out three ways to get them back to the classroom – physically, cognitively and emotionally

Henry T Y Fung

Hong Kong Baptist University

Group of Asian students looking at computer

Laying foundations: how to keep first-year students invested in their learning

The challenge for higher education foundation courses is to prepare students for university learning and build their confidence without overwhelming them with information. This guide explains how

Yeow Leong Lee

Singapore Management University

Deciding between AI and human intelligence

Managing student risk AI-version

Could a safe space to experiment with using artificial intelligence to complete an assessment offer students a path to both deeper learning and AI proficiency?

Chris Jones

Regent’s University London

A teacher talks with students

Five ways to centre faculty development at your university

Teaching quality can be an institution’s biggest asset, improving student retention and boosting reputation. So why not move faculty development to the centre of institutional strategy?

Salah Al-Majeed, Hayat El Asri

Al Akhawayn University

Young Asian woman on a bike

Why slowness is a superpower in creative education

Good ideas often appear in the quiet moments we don’t count as work. David Thompson argues for protecting incubation time and for helping students rediscover the value of disconnection

David Thompson

University of Lincoln

A doorway with an "admissions" sign next to it

It starts with connection: rethinking the enrolment journey

The old enrolment model no longer fits today’s diverse student population. To truly support modern learners, universities must prioritise flexibility, empathy and trust over scripts and yield targets, writes Agnam Memeti

Agnam Memeti

DeVry University

Multiracial group of three university students

How student feedback and planning shape a high-impact orientation programme

Orientation week should not be about institutional formality but about human connection, writes Anusha Nataru. An engaging, effective programme requires careful pacing, warmth and inbuilt capacity to respond to student feedback

Anusha Nataru

Aditya University

A pair of hands scroll social media on a smartphone

Harness the powers of social media for learning

Replace mindless scrolling with little moments of learning by curating your social media feed. Here’s how

Norlin Nosbi, Nurul Azhani Yunus, Abdul Rahim Othman, Mazian Mohammad

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

A student raising his hand in class

How to get students asking better questions

Better questions can spark deeper discussions, boost engagement and develop critical thinking. These practical strategies – from questioning frameworks to encouraging peer review and self-directed assessment – can build a more curious, enquiry-driven classroom

Gareth Owen

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

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Campus talks: using social media not as a tool but as a teacher in higher education

What can university educators learn about teaching and audience engagement from social media? Two experts – a psychologist and a professor of public relations – share strategies for connecting with students, finding wider audiences for niche research, and fighting misinformation

Peter Lovatt, Cayce Myers

Doctor Dance, Virginia Tech

A video gamer with a headset on is seen from the back

A guide to embedding esports for employability

Competitive video gaming is growing – and its power could be harnessed in your classroom. Here’s how to integrate esports to foster transferable skills in students

Gavin Baxter

University of the West of Scotland

Robot human hands in high five

Beyond the buzz: how AI can be a coach, not a competitor, in the university classroom

Placing teaching tasks along a spectrum between AI and human strengths can help university educators make use of the best of both worlds

Meena Jha, Michael Cowling, Josiah Koh, Kwong Nui Sim

Central Queensland University, RMIT University, Western Sydney University

A headless person wearing a suit with a speech bubble for a head holding a phone

What can higher education learn from social media?

This collection explores how social media can be used to develop skills, shape pedagogy and foster online learning communities, as well as support academics in building their professional profiles and extending the reach of their research

Laura Duckett, Campus contributors

Campus

Diverse group of students on social media

Engaging and influencing learners in the digital age of higher education

Educators and influencers share a common goal: engagement. So, what strategies can university teachers take from social media platforms that have mastered the art of audience capture?

Riley A. Scott, Jaimee Stuart

The University of Southern Queensland , United Nations University Institute in Macau

Students using their phones

What social media can teach lecturers about student engagement

Apply insights from how social media captures attention to help students stay focused in class and motivated to learn

Natalie K. D. Seedan

The University of the West Indies

Young male student looking perplexed with mobile phone

Fighting falsehoods at the speed of the scroll

With students subjected to a steady stream of memes and manipulated narratives, teaching media literacy isn’t something university educators should do; it’s something they must. Cayce Myers offers advice for a misinformation age

Cayce Myers

Virginia Tech

Spotlight guide: Back to the basics of pedagogy

Back to the basics of pedagogy

Techniques and methods to enrich your teaching - and your students’ learning outcomes

Campus contributors

Campus

Four jigsaw puzzle pieces display a mortarbord

Five tips when embedding gamification in the classroom

Gamification and game-based learning can centre students in the learning experience and improve university enrolment rates. Here’s how to get started

Gustavo Espinoza Ramos , Gunter Saunders

University of Westminster

An abseiler catching a falling colleague

A proactive approach to retaining nursing students

Read about a multi-dimensional retention strategy designed to reduce nursing student attrition by combining data, feedback and early intervention

Rebekah Hill, Lorraine Randlesome, Rachel Lewis

The University of East Anglia