The Higher Education sector presents a variety of rewarding career opportunities. At times, however, the application process can be competitive, and you may find job hunting to be time-consuming. In this article, I have selected some key advice to support your job search. Be clear Are you thinking about changing…>
Academic Careers
Writing Abstracts for Conferences
From draft to podium: a guide for researchers at any stage Whether you are just starting in research or are an experienced academic, writing abstracts for conferences is a continuous process of skill development. This is because it requires a unique blend of academic and communication skills that differ from…>
Supporting Individual Researchers in a Publish-or-Perish Culture
Many people working in academia are passionate about their subject area. Supporting individual researchers in this environment requires strategic actions from institutions, mentors, and peers. They strive to know more and to make a positive difference in the world. They commit themselves to their research and to producing high-quality work….>
Basic skills in Moodle management
Why learning basic skills in Moodle management matters, and how to go about it. Moodle is a well-known Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), and I am sure many of you are already familiar with it, whether as educators or students. Due to the growing shift towards blended and online learning, VLEs…>
How to organise a conference
Having organised several academic events, I wanted to share some practical advice on how to plan a conference from start to finish. Months of isolation made us appreciate the little things in academia. Nothing quite beats the return to in-person conferences: good coffee, and face-to-face conversations that spark ideas! As…>
How important is EDI in HE?
The approach to EDI by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) As both employers and education providers, many HEI’s have chosen to take a robust approach to equality by establishing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policies and strategic plans. In the UK, we are required to adhere to the framework of the…>
Moving to the UK checklist
The United Kingdom, steeped in history and culture, as well as being home to high-quality universities and research opportunities is an appealing option as a prospective PhD candidate or established academic coming from abroad. However, before you make the move to the UK for either study or work purposes, there…>
How do you stay focused when researching?
Imagine spending hours on research, only to realise that you have drifted off course and lost your focus. Academic research and analysis can feel overwhelming, especially when juggling multiple tasks, distractions (because, as we all know, life happens!) and tight deadlines. Whether writing a PhD thesis, preparing a publication, or…>
How to overcome writer’s block
Writer’s block is frustrating and requires patience to overcome… …but it is a common challenge, especially for academics and professionals juggling multiple projects and deadlines, whether working independently or in collaboration. We have all been there before, staring at a blank screen as the deadline looms, unable to type a…>
AI in higher education – where are we now?
It has been a bit less than a year since I wrote a blog post on how generative AI can be used in higher education, with a focus on applications for teaching, research, and admin. I was a relatively early adopter of ChatGPT and have had my subscription to the…>