In-person events are still necessaryShould academics be travelling to events that could be done virtually? Drawing on her experiences at COP28, Denise Baden shares tips on how to make the most of these events – and why a chance to form alliances, learn from each other and share ideas for action make it worth being presentDenise BadenUniversity of Southampton
How can universities increase diversity in spin-out founders?Ensuring that all talented researchers can participate in spin-out leadership is core to translating world-leading discoveries into innovative and impactful businesses, writes Simonetta Manfredi in her response to the UK spin-outs reviewSimonetta Manfredi Oxford Brookes University
How to drive change in a research group, part two: a step-by-step guideResearch group leaders can use business frameworks to implement change effectively, argues Daniel Moraru. Here's howDaniel MoraruShizuoka University
Leveraging internships to empower first-generation studentsProfessional placements – whether paid or unpaid – offer practical, hands-on experiences aligned with students’ academic pursuits and help level the playing field for first-gen students in competitive job marketsLisa M. LeeVirginia Tech
Multilayered interventions to foster community relationshipsKey components of positive community engagement include institutional-, faculty- and course-level links, writes Tom Williamson. Here, he offers a road map for embedding universities in their local area and regional economyTom WilliamsonAnglia Ruskin University
Using partnerships to establish and build on project successFrom listening to the student voice to creating joined-up partnerships, success on major capital works depends on teamwork. Here, Dominic Wood outlines key elements to ensure project delivery and reap long-term benefitsDominic WoodRoyal Northern College of Music (RNCM)
How knowledge exchange engages and retains disadvantaged studentsOffering disadvantaged students the opportunity to take part in consultancy projects where they can make an impact on complex social issues can boost engagement, says Neale DanielNeale DanielAnglia Ruskin University
Teaching business students how to prepare sustainability reports for SMEsIn engaging with small and medium-sized enterprises, universities can raise SMEs’ awareness of their own climate impacts. Here, Ven Tauringana shares a model for teaching accounting students how to produce sustainability reportsVen TauringanaUniversity of Southampton
Advice for effective cross-team collaboration for researchResearch teams that might not usually work together are increasingly required to collaborate. Here, Rob Kadel offers five principles that underpin effective project deliveryRob KadelGeorgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities
How storytelling boosts environmental impact and engagementPresenting sustainability research in a story – with a protagonist, goal and resolution – can bridge the gap between complex theory and real-world results for wider audiences and policymakers alike Denise BadenUniversity of Southampton
Driving change: creating student-NGO partnerships for climate solutions Luis Ricardo Fernández Carril and Luis Gerardo Rojas Solorio reveal how to energise and empower students to take part in the fight against climate change Luis Ricardo Fernández Carril , Luis Gerardo Rojas Solorio Tecnológico de Monterrey
How do you leap from research lab to Silicon Valley start-up?The good news is that times of turmoil are ideal for innovation – and far more skills are transferable from bench to IPO than you might imagine. Here are eight actions that will get your start-up off the groundBen ClarkUniversity of Southampton
Campus Talks: Unlocking people power through citizen scienceFind out how engaging non-academics in research can uncover and disperse new knowledge and ways of thinking that help shape solutions to seemingly intractable problemsHenrietta L. Moore , Joel Bitok, Alan IrwinUCL, Copenhagen Business School
Why we need a new model for professional development credentialsClose collaboration between universities and industry can help higher education address the ‘skills emergency’ and rebuild trust in university qualifications, writes Mick GrimleyMick GrimleyUniversity of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
How can universities disrupt the gender investment gap?Engaging with stakeholders beyond higher education and debunking myths around women and innovation can open spin-out opportunities to more women, writes Simonetta ManfrediSimonetta Manfredi Oxford Brookes University
How to work with industry in mutually beneficial waysCollaboration through professional societies offers students real-world learning opportunities and universities a way to enhance graduate employability. Here’s how to do itAli ZwainAl-Mustaqbal University
Shifting landscapes of social media data for researchWhat can researchers do in light of changes to social media platforms’ APIs that reduce and monetise access to data? In this uncharted territory, aspects to watch include new access routes and user protectionsBrittany I. Davidson, Joanne Hinds, Daniel RacekUniversity of Bath, LMU Munich
Campus Talks: Universities aren’t too small to lead the climate crisis fightIt’s easy to feel hopeless in the face of climate change, but, in this episode, two experts offer ways universities – and individuals – can make a difference to their local area and the planetBryan Alexander, Sebastian PfautschGeorgetown University, Western Sydney University
Making the dream work: the ingredients of successful partnershipsJohn Miles gives advice on helping new partnerships succeed and managing issues when they ariseJohn MilesInkpath
What distinguishes a university from a knowledge enterprise?In this extract, David Staley and Dominic Endicott offer 12 features that characterise institutions committed to attracting talent to their region for economic growth and their own survivalDavid J. Staley, Dominic D. J. EndicottThe Ohio State University, Northstar Ventures
Five tips for building healthy academic collaborationsCollaboration is a key skill in academia, but nobody is ever taught how to do it effectively. Martyna Śliwa gives advice on how to work well with othersMartyna Śliwa Durham University
How knowledge-sharing is making Baja’s wine industry the ‘next Napa’Diana Celaya Tentori discusses the huge benefits of knowledge-sharing in wine research that can be applied to every academic disciplineDiana Celaya Tentori CETYS Universidad
The three key building blocks for a successful knowledge transfer partnershipKTPs offer huge benefits to all involved – as long as you have the right partner, the right project and the right graduate, explains Ruth GreenhalghRuth Greenhalgh Arden University
How to foster a start-up mindset in creative sector studentsIn an ever-changing employment landscape, more students than ever are setting up start-ups after graduation. Richard Sant and Victoria Fabbri share how the creative sector has lessons for nurturing future entrepreneurs Richard Sant, Victoria FabbriUniversity of the Arts London
How to train entrepreneurs in five stepsWhat training is needed to help aspiring entrepreneurs develop the skills they will need? George Chondrakis shares five vital stepsGeorge Chondrakis Esade
Building blocks of university-industry partnerships for positive changeHow universities can develop strategic cross-sector partnerships and trans-disciplinary research in order to boost progress towards the SDGs Tim Bodley-Scott, Ersel OymakUCL
Work like a scientist, don’t sound like oneA pitch or presentation is not a full paper – and squeezing in too much detail will only alienate your audience. Here are four tips to make your research easy to understand in any context Philipp GramlichNaturalScience.Careers
Open research is a tough nut to crack. Here’s how we can get startedInvestment, training and incentives are required if the sector is going to rise to the challenge of truly embracing open researchMarcus Munafò, Neil JacobsThe University of Bristol, UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN)
Five steps for engaging policymakers with researchFive pointers to help researchers get policymakers interested in their work, based on a guide co-created by government and academics from the University of LeedsBen WalmsleyUniversity of Leeds, Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)
Does the UK need an observatory for university engagement with policymakers?Any such project would need to guard against numerous pitfalls, but the benefits in terms of bringing together various initiatives and engendering new skills could be greatJonathan Breckon , Sarah Chaytor , Kayleigh Renberg-Fawcett Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE), Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN), UCL
Knowledge transfer partnerships: a guide to doing them well Advice on running a successful knowledge transfer partnership, based on the experience of James Selfe and Jim Richards co-developing a portable rehabilitation device for sports injuriesJames Selfe, Jim RichardsManchester Metropolitan University, University of Central Lancashire
What is the secret to leading a successful knowledge transfer partnership?Knowledge transfer partnerships between academics and businesses can result in innovative products and services. Tony Leslie offers 10 pointers on how to increase the likelihood of making these collaborations a successTony LeslieUniversity of the West of Scotland
Make a difference: collaboration and participation in arts-led researchArtists can’t solve the world’s problems, but they are well placed to ask questions that enable ideas and creativity to emerge. And the local knowledge of communities holds a wealth of answers, writes Loraine LeesonLoraine LeesonMiddlesex University
How campus layout influences social ties and research exchangeShorter distances between departments and offices can boost communication and exchange. But proximity is not the only way that campus design influences interactions among the university communityAndres SevtsukMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
What does ‘strengthen research capacity’ actually mean, and how can we do it?Leaders of research consortia face a difficult task in carrying out research and improving research capacity, but embedding a specialist team to make recommendations provides great gainsImelda Bates , Justin Pulford , Lorelei Silvester Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)
University-edtech collaboration: how to leverage the best of both worldsSeven lessons for managing successful university-edtech collaborations that result in innovative new programmes, shared by Mònica CasabayóMònica CasabayóEsade
Lessons from completing an award-winning knowledge transfer projectEight key components of a successful knowledge transfer project (KTP), drawing from the experience of an award-winning initiative to develop an online teaching platform for primary care cliniciansRachel McCrindle, Richard Mitchell, Yota DimitriadiUniversity of Reading
The fundamentals of successful student knowledge exchangeWhat basics must be considered in order to build a successful student knowledge exchange project? Sharon Ingram shares insight based on supporting a student-led chemistry consultancySharon IngramUniversity of Strathclyde
How to improve the public understanding of evidenceThe ability to critically analyse information and differentiate fact from fiction is a skill needed far beyond higher education. So how can academics trained in evaluating evidence engage the wider public in this important process?Rebecca DeweyUniversity of Nottingham, Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)
Playing to our strengths: how HE can benefit from shared edtechToo many inter-institutional collaborations are derailed due to a false belief that institutions’ tech infrastructures are too dissimilar, says John Miles John MilesInkpath
The formula for a successful knowledge exchange programmeTips on how to create a successful knowledge exchange programme that fosters a truly collaborative culture, from Milan Radosavljevic Milan RadosavljevicUniversity of the West of Scotland
Three big ideas to ensure research helps shape the future of businessHigh-quality scientific research and the values it encapsulates, such as a focus on empirical evidence over opinion, must be used to help business for years to comeAndrew StephenUniversity of Oxford
Tackling climate change requires university, government and industry collaboration – here’s howUniversities must work with government and industry to drive climate action. Anna Skarbek outlines key principles that should shape the approachAnna SkarbekMonash University, Climateworks Centre
Want your research to have an impact on policy? Know your audiencePoliticians are novices by design, so tailoring your communications with them gives you the best chance of cutting through, says David R. GarciaDavid R. GarciaArizona State University
Social justice in, through and beyond higher educationHigher education institutions can work individually and together to advance social justice well beyond their campus walls, as Pardis Mahdavi explainsPardis MahdaviArizona State University
How to work with Forage to implement virtual internshipsBen Powell provides tips and reflections on how universities can improve student employability using Forage, a free online platform offering a range of virtual internship programmes Ben PowellUniversity of Westminster
Professors who ‘practise what they preach’ help humanise research managementThere is a need in academia for professors to match teaching and research with professional practice – and be fairly compensated for itJames MeredithColorado State University Global
How to facilitate the small changes in teaching that make a big differenceThrough their podcast, Alastair Stark and Sebastian Kaempf champion the ‘sandwich conversations’ between colleagues that lead to impactful incremental shifts in teaching practiceAlastair Stark, Sebastian KaempfThe University of Queensland
Five tips for using design thinking to transform your academic practiceJenny Moffett explains how embracing design thinking may offer ways to combat academic perfectionism and develop vital skills for navigating uncertain pathsJenny MoffettRCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Why interdisciplinarity is just like a fantasy role-playing gameWho’s the barbarian? Which one’s the wizard? Lorena Quilantán García offers practical advice on embarking upon your very own interdisciplinary hero questLorena Quilantán García Tecnológico de Monterrey