Discover and share good practice for smarter working universities

Improving the E-communication journey for enquirers and applicants – the right message at the...

E-communication is widely used for interacting with potential students to help them make an informed decision about their place of study. To ensure this method is delivering the desired experience, reviews of e-communication should take place to keep messaging fresh and relevant. In this blog Marion Malcolm of the University of Aberdeen discusses their project to review the E-communication to pre-registered students, with clear aims of ensuring the branding and student experience is consistent and that there is clarity in job roles with the overall goal of enhancing efficiency.

How can universities help students create a sustainable future?

The university sector has an essential role to play in tackling the world’s sustainability challenges – not just in developing research-based solutions but in influencing the attributes of students that graduate each year. In this blog, Dr Neil Jennings (Imperial College London) and Quinn Runkle (National Union of Students) discuss projects that have been successful at equipping students across all disciplines with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours required to address sustainability challenges while at university and in their future careers.

Staff development for Blended Learning? An international perspective from Hong Kong Universities.

Many institutions have ambitious strategies to engage learners, broaden access and increase success using blended approaches. Yet in an evolving innovation landscape, making intelligent use of Learning Technology at scale requires strong support for staff across all parts of an institution. Providing effective professional development for Blended Learning is a growing challenge, and in this blog Dr Maren Deepwell and Dr Thomas Palmer highlight some new developments from ALT Members at Hong Kong Universities.

Universities in 2018: Riding trends to drive change

Globalisation, digitalisation and advanced knowledge-based economies, the three mega trends Professor Dr Maurits Van Rooijen discusses in this opinion piece, questioning universities positioning to serve the needs of the modern economy. Opening doors to new opportunities and embracing new higher educational provision is the future of learning.

ProtectED: A way forward for universities which aims to improve student safety and well-being

Student safety should be a priority for all universities, but with 39% of universities not providing sexual misconduct training for staff, and only 29% of universities with a mental health and well-being strategy, this demonstrates there is need for improvement. Lucy Winrow from ProtectED discusses student safety and understanding 'what works', driving change in national standards in the HE sector and safeguarding the student experience

Why Universities Should Be Investing In Lab Sustainability

While there has been some criticism on how universities invest in their estate, there are also example of innovative practices to make buildings more ecological sound and effective. The Lab Sustainability Initiative at the University of Bristol is one of such examples.

Designing Academic Opportunities

Developing innovative and flexible opportunities for students to become more involved in their own University experience is at the forefront of the Student Engagement ethos at the University of Lincoln. In this blog, Amy O'Sullivan and Emily Stow share how their portfolio of Academic Opportunities was created and developed at the Students’ Union.

Why We Should Be Engaging Students As Partners In Learning And Teaching

In this blog Dr Catherine Bovill, Senior Lecturer in Student Engagement from the University of Edinburgh, explores the reasons for rising interest in engaging students as partners in learning and teaching in higher education. She examines a range of different rationales and arguments used to support student-staff partnership.

Vegan and Vegetarian Society at the University of Stirling

As part of our Student experience series we hear from students who have recognised a need for support and changes to be made within their campus. Students at Stirling University set up the Vegan and Vegetarian society to broaden the food choices in their canteen . University can be more than the course.

“It’s all standard behaviour.” So what is all the fuss about?

There has been a lot of awareness raised recently around gender based violence and questions around the idea of standard behaviour.  In this opinion piece,...