Why every student (and researcher) should know about evidence synthesis The ability to collect, summarise and analyse data is especially vital for students and researchers in medical and healthcare-related fields, writes Alessio Bellato. Here, he explains what it is and how to access trainingAlessio Bellato University of Southampton
THE podcast: what is open access?Experts demystify what open access and open research are, tips for best practice, and where the movement and research culture are headingHeather Joseph, Steven U. Vidovic Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, University of Southampton
Publication-based doctorate: is it for me?Potential research higher degree candidates from academia or industry will need to decide between a doctorate by thesis or by publication. Here are key questions to ask before embarking on the doctoral journeyRiad ShamsNorthumbria University
Using a business framework to advocate for international research collaborationIn this resource, Daniel Moraru uses a framework to help researchers interrogate the multi-faceted implications of international collaboration in researchDaniel MoraruShizuoka University
Open research: what is it, really? Broadly, open research principles aim to foster openness, transparency, replicability and accountability, writes Steven Vidovic. Here, he offers a fresh perspective along with practices to establish trust in research and foster collaborations and future opportunitiesSteven U. Vidovic University of Southampton
Democratising research through open access journalsThe rise of open access publishing has democratised knowledge dissemination, allowing researchers to share their findings with a global audience. Here, Corinne Guimont offers insights on running OA journals at a higher education institutionCorinne GuimontVirginia Tech
Empower ECRs to commercialise their researchEarly career researchers face many barriers when it comes to translating their research into commercial success, be they a lack of time, being overlooked in favour of more established colleagues or simply not knowing where to startLysimachos ZografosThe University of Edinburgh
Opening doors to knowledge: making data open accessMaking data open access has become a cornerstone of transparent and collaborative research practices. Here, Jon Petters provides a brief guide on how to do it, emphasising accessibility, reproducibility and interoperability Jonathan PettersVirginia Tech
How can we imagine a new university?In this existential moment for higher education, the corporate university is not the only end point possible – we can imagine so much more. David J. Staley offers 10 new ways of thinking about universities, in this excerpt from his book ‘Alternative Universities: Speculative Design for Innovation in Higher Education’David J. StaleyOhio State University
Unwrapping discovery: the importance of institutional repositoriesSelf-archiving in university repositories is an alternative academic publishing route to gold open access that can boost citations and diversify users accessing scholarly content, writes Nicki ClarksonNicki ClarksonUniversity of Southampton
Using storybooks to share research with a wider audienceStorybooks offer a collegial method of sharing research findings beyond the peer-reviewed journals of academia – and putting it in the hands of the people who can best use the information, write Dominic Petronzi, Dean Fido and Rebecca PetronziDominic Petronzi , Dean Fido, Rebecca Petronzi University of Derby
Open access: why and how to do itHere, a librarian and master of information student offer insight into facets of open access publishing and the challenges relating to itMelissa A. Rothfus, Catherine GraceyDalhousie University
How can we embed inclusion in our research culture for postgraduate researchers?Small, systemic changes can help universities make their research community more welcoming and collaborative. Here, Maisha Islam looks at four actions to consider – from PGR surveys to widening accessMaisha Islam University of Southampton
Sharing qualitative research through open accessTraditional open access repositories are designed for sharing quantitative data. But what about qualitative data – non-numeric information and concepts such as case studies or interview transcripts? That’s where the Qualitative Data Repository comes inNathaniel D. PorterVirginia Tech
Three ways libraries are championing the open access movementScholars and researchers should take advantage of libraries’ support of and expertise around open access publishing. Asking a librarian for help could protect your work and save you moneyKaren GloverGeorgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities
Four ways to create an entrepreneurial culture at your institutionUniversities are perfectly placed to help start-ups get off the ground. Alan Murray, Robert Crammond and Kingsley Omeihe advise on how best to get your students thinking with a business mindsetAlan Murray, Robert Crammond, Kingsley OmeiheUniversity of the West of Scotland
Use teamwork to erode the glass cliffAs the UK higher education sector battles a perfect storm, Emma Flynn stresses the importance of building strong teams around female leadersEmma FlynnThe University of Warwick
Steps to take to encourage more support for public engagement in researchBy fostering a culture in which public engagement is not just encouraged but embedded into the fabric of academic life, institutions can leave a lasting impact on both the scholarly community and the world at largeLyn R. KeithThe University of the West Indies
What underpins effective patient and public involvement in health and social care research? Is it rules or values? The two key ways to approach the art of PPI in healthcare research should come together in process, procedures and culture, writes Gary HickeyGary HickeyUniversity of Southampton
Women’s leadership is vital in the evolving landscape of higher educationThe higher education sector is facing unprecedented changes since the pandemic, with technology evolving at a faster rate than ever. Becky Takeda-Tinker and Jenna Tarleton show that women can play a pivotal role in leading the way through this new normalBecky Takeda-Tinker, Jenna TarletonColorado State University Global
Let’s celebrate the qualities women bring to higher education leadership Şerife Eyüpoğlu reflects on her experiences in higher education and the benefits women’s leadership styles can offerŞerife EyüpoğluNear East University
Support for faculty on long-term leave is a career lifeline Institutions and academics both benefit when support frameworks are in place to help extended leavers back into work. Four educators offer a case study in what one might look likeTheresa Mercer , Jim Harris, Ron Corstanje, Chhaya Kerai-Jones Cranfield University
Gender equality is more than a box-ticking exercise – let’s champion itThe higher education sector is ideally placed to inspire talented women and improve the gender balance in the workplace. Kate Allum advocates for the power of self-beliefKate AllumUniversity of the West of Scotland
Could Athenian democracy improve the quality of science?What if universities were governed according to the open culture that drives scientific research itself? Zoltan Dienes and Jörg Huber look at an ancient model for decision-makingZoltan Dienes, Jörg HuberUniversity of Sussex, University of Brighton
The double-edged sword of open access publishingInclusivity is seen as a benefit of open access publishing, but is this an illusion? Here, William E. Donald asks questions about who pays and what counts, and offers scenarios for a fairer journal modelWilliam E. DonaldUniversity of Southampton
How to harness community knowledge to tackle complex policy challengesWorking with local communities can help uncover new insights to tackle complex social policy challenges. Saffron Woodcraft and Joseph Cook explain how to set up high-impact citizen social science researchSaffron Woodcraft, Joseph CookUniversity College London
How to engage with the media and expand the impact of your workAcademic scholars are generally not trained to write for broad audiences, so how do you get your compelling, newsworthy research out there? Gregory R. Goldsmith offers five considerationsGregory GoldsmithChapman University
How to facilitate knowledge exchange and build trust with policymakersThose seeking to create impact with their evidence should be ready to understand how public sector bodies make sense of the value of research, writes Julian MolinaJulian MolinaUniversity of Bristol
We set up a thought leadership programme to amplify PhD research reachDalhousie's OpenThink programme shows how universities can empower the next generation of thought leaders and facilitate public engagement Lynne M. Robinson Dalhousie University
Believe it or not, you can use conspiracy theories as tools for teachingWhen misinformation is a global risk, critical thinking skills are more vital than ever, writes Malcolm Schofield. Here, he offers techniques from parapsychology and belief studies that can make research and analysis more rigorous Malcolm SchofieldUniversity of Derby
Why press releases are a waste of your comms team’s timeMost universities will track press release output as part of overall communications metrics – but, asks Kylie Ahern, have you considered other ways to generate media coverage, awareness of your brand or better relationships with journalists? Kylie AhernSTEM Matters
Driving change through knowledge: how to increase policy impact Academic research is invaluable in informing governments and leaders so they can make decisions that affect us all. Here, Yaryna Basystyuk offers advice on how to make your research count in the policy world Yaryna BasystyukUniversity of Southampton
Campus interview: Mike Ibba of Chapman University on mentorship and the future of US scienceIn this video podcast Mike Ibba, dean of Schmid College of Science and Technology at Chapman University, talks about undergraduate research, what philosophers and scientists can learn from each other and the state of US federal funding for science and technology researchMike IbbaChapman University
Building trust in research: how effective patient and public involvement can helpInvolving patients and the public in research results in more relevant outcomes and gathers insight into what issues affect and are of importance to them and their communities, writes Gary HickeyGary HickeyUniversity of Southampton
Empower communities using the Tree of Hope activity for post-project evaluationPost-project evaluation tools that generate useful participant feedback drive positive, enduring change, write Suthawan Thummasungwan and Prakit ArsaPrakit Arsa , Suthawan ThummasungwanSiam University
Show your research impact: a guide for academics and researchersIn academia, effectively demonstrating and communicating the real-world impact of research is increasingly vital for scholars, driven by demands from funding bodies and academic institutionsMohammed Al-Bahrani Al-Mustaqbal 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
How to foster PhD excellenceHow can PhD supervisors help early career researchers blossom? Support them with finding funding opportunities, understand each doctoral candidate’s motivations and reach out to your own network, suggests Julia HörnleJulia HörnleQueen Mary University of London
THE podcast: how to do public engagementWhat is best practice for universities’ public engagement? How do you enlist the public in your research? And how do you keep them interested in the long term? Two 2022 THE Awards winners share their insights – from their experiences tracking Covid and decoding DickensTanya Wood, Hugo BowlesKing’s College London, University of Buckingham
The secret to long-term international research projects is trust and transparency To build an excellent research team you want talented individuals – but they also have to enjoy working together. Christine Raines explains how teamwork and open communication have made Ripe succeedChristine RainesUniversity of Essex
To extend your research’s impact, be bold and collaborate widelyInternational collaborations expose your work to new and bigger audiences and give you unique opportunities for cross-organisational and interdisciplinary engagement, says Catherine Queen Catherine QueenUniversity of Liverpool
Approach with caution: why education faculty should engage public intellectualismThe public debate on intellectualism is failing to consider education experts. Ali and Davin Carr-Chellman find the ways to reclaim the narrative Ali Carr-Chellman, Davin Carr-Chellman University of Dayton
Love and money: why the search for funding is like romanceFunding is a relationship of sorts. You and your research project funder will enter into a finite symbiosis. It’s a joyful, exciting, uncomfortable and occasionally scary co-dependency, writes Laura Berrisford Laura BerrisfordTe Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Advice for supervising a PhD by published worksThe route to a PhD by published works requires a different approach to supervision. Here, Alison Brettle provides aspects to consider based on her experience conducting, supervising and developing institutional guidanceAlison BrettleUniversity of Salford
Case study: how to do an independent evaluation on homelessness on six continentsFrom working with resident researchers to navigating local salary schemes, Suzanne Fitzpatrick offers lessons on how to carry out a large-scale international evaluation programme Suzanne Fitzpatrick Heriot-Watt University
Celebrating failure and other advice for PhD supervisorsPhD researchers should be given space to work independently, share their results and test their own limits with the support of supervisors who see them as people first and scientists second, explains Hannah ClokeHannah ClokeUniversity of Reading
Tips for effectively communicating your research’s impactFinding ways to communicate the impact of your research can sometimes be a hurdle. Here, Lyn R. Keith outlines effective ways to overcome it and extend the reach of your workLyn R. KeithThe University of the West Indies
Don’t keep your distance learners at a distanceTailored communication, supervision and technology can give distance-learning postgraduate researchers the same sense of belonging as their on-campus counterparts. Here, Richard Thomas offers ways to close the gapRichard ThomasUniversity of Leicester
HARKing forward: an argument for a polarising research practiceHypothesising (or proposing) after results are known is seen as going against scientific principles. Here, however, Yehuda Barach argues for its use in the name of unhindered enquiry and discovery when the scholarship is transparent and properly reported Yehuda BaruchUniversity of Southampton
How to lose a grant in 10 waysWant your funding application to be rejected? Have we got some advice for you. But, seriously, don’t do these things and you might just find your perfect grant matchKathryn MackinvenTe Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury