Professional insight from the University of Chester

The University of Chester is committed to delivering community, fostering innovation and creativity and providing an excellent education that enriches the lives of our graduates, making them "world ready”.

University of Chester

A man on a bridge using rope to bridge a gap

Level the playing field for BTEC students entering university

A cross-sectoral shared commitment to improving transition, retention and academic preparedness can help universities better serve BTEC entrants, says Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson

University of Chester

A schoolteacher standing in front of a whiteboard interacting with pupils

Want to improve your teaching? Ask a teacher

Schoolteachers-turned-lecturers have a wealth of pedagogical knowledge, says Gordon Baillie, Here, he outlines reasons why university educators should be tapping into it and shares questions they can reflect on to improve their practice

Gordon Baillie

University of Chester

A teacher advising a student on a reading in the library

What sets great teachers apart?

A great teacher is there to inspire students, not through theatrics of personality but because of a burning love of their subject, writes Steve Lambert

Steve Lambert

University of Chester

Univerity students at their desks

How can we better support female autistic students?

Autism can manifest differently in women and girls. Learn how small changes, such as warning students before making changes to classroom layouts, can make all the difference

Sarah Guest

University of Chester

University students at a desk surrounded by shelves full of books

Here’s how to show students what responsible AI use looks like

Well-designed assessments can highlight generative AI’s limitations, where it can provide support and what responsible practice looks like. Andrew Firr and Alex Fenton offer strategies

Andrew Firr, Alex Fenton

University of Chester

Digital fluency concept

Beyond checkbox training: how to build university faculty’s digital fluency

How can institutions align digital training with the realities of academic work, professional identity and institutional culture? Here, five academics suggest design principles for effective skills development

Multiple authors

University of Chester, Kate Lindsay Consulting Ltd, University of Plymouth, University of Greenwich , Buckinghamshire New University

A woman opening a package with a surprised expression on her face

How to choose the right AI tools for teaching

Educators are not always aware of the implications of using the latest shiny AI tool. Laura Milne offers guidance on balancing educational value with institutional priorities

Laura Milne

University of Chester

An unseen laptop user with a flow-chart visualisation superimposed

Why process mapping matters in higher education

A technique to help universities improve collaboration, reduce inefficiencies and build shared understanding across teams to support more effective working – and a framework for successful implementation

Helen Jones

University of Chester

A group of students celebrating around an unlocked chest full of sweets

Unlock learning and build community with escape rooms

Games-based activities foster active, relaxed learning and collaborative problem-solving. Rebecca Andrew and Sam Chadwick offer guidance on how to design and tailor them to suit a range of needs

Rebecca Andrew, Sam Chadwick

University of Chester

Chester, UK

Lessons from first-time festival planners

Co-creating a large-scale, impactful public event can seem more like a ‘would love to’ than a ‘must’, particularly in the face of resource pressures or lack of an established culture or calendar. Here’s advice learned from developing a four-day festival from scratch

Sarah Cameron, Jane Pearson, Hannah Perkins, Katherine Wilson

University of Chester

Webinar image

Campus webinar: The secrets of international student success

Four academics based in the UK and France discuss how universities can ensure international students fulfil their potential throughout and after their studies

Allan Atlee, Joanna Daaboul, Helen Galbraith, Felipe Koch

University of the Arts London, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, University of Chester, Université Paris-Est Créteil

employees sitting at a boardroom table

Make university placements work for students and employers

Well-structured university placements can bridge theory and practice, build professional skills and reduce inequalities. Discover how to get them right

Rebecca Crutchley, Michelle Palser

University of Chester

An unseen woman doing sums with a calculator

How university financial support teams can bolster student mental health

Universities must treat financial support as central to student well-being. By fostering open conversations and offering proactive, tailored guidance, institutions can ease financial stress, build resilience and improve the student experience

Ian Ashley

University of Chester

A podcaster interviewing a guest speaker

The power of podcasts to enhance student support

A university podcast can help cut through the noise of traditional communications. By meeting students where they are, it can be a powerful way to build community, reduce stigma and ensure support services reach those who need them

Shaunagh Moss

University of Chester

Captian Knowledge comic image

Using comic format to make research more accessible

Comic literature can make research more inclusive and engaging for those outside academic circles. Learn how to plan and create your own

Chris Johnson

University of Chester

A student filming herself on her phone

The dos and don’ts of bite-sized social media content

Learn how to create honest and authentic content that showcases community and creates a sense of belonging – invaluable for both prospective and current students

Amy Edwards, Sarah Markillie

University of Chester

A student with a guitar surrounded by others smiling

Make your Freshers’ Week activities sing

Songwriting sessions, treasure hunts and biscuit decorating are among the creative Freshers’ Week activities that help students build self-confidence, connect with others and ease the transition to university life

Helen Eadon-Sinkinson

University of Chester

A teacher live streaming from a smart phone

Go live on social media to engage with prospective students

Meeting prospective international students in person isn’t always possible. Here’s how to create engaging live streams on social media, from selecting valuable content to structuring sessions and encouraging interaction

Alex Fenton

University of Chester

A focus group

How to build a citizen science research culture

Practical advice for building inclusive and innovative research cultures that prepare students for real-world challenges

Aadhi Agilan, Sam O’Keefe, Gareth Bilton

University of Chester

Lots of social media users in a grid

We should be using social media more to understand students

How to use netnography to improve communication with prospective and current students

Alex Fenton

University of Chester

A student standing outside campus thinking

How can we make HE more accessible for those with criminal convictions?

Students with criminal convictions are often left out of higher education widening participation efforts. This resource challenges the narrative and offers strategies to support them

Jayne Price, Paul Taylor

University of Chester

Hands holding books, illustration, diversify reading lists concept

Students as partners in diversifying reading lists

Bringing the student voice into the creation of a toolkit to decolonise and diversify university reading lists was a key purpose of a library project. Here's what the team learnt about working in partnership with students

Charlotte Gleeson, Debbie Spencer, Jenny Warren

University of Chester

Healthcare workers looking at a tablet

Partnership work as a catalyst for upskilling in key employment sectors

An example of how a business school can partner with public sector and industry bodies to develop products and services that help upskill and support practice-based education

Mike Brownsell , Kirstie Simpson

University of Chester

Parents with two sons posing for a photo

A guide to supporting student parents at university: part three

Practical strategies for easing student parents into higher education study, including time management, contingency planning and community building

Andy Todd

University of Chester

Mother getting her son ready for school

A guide to supporting student parents at university: part two

The second in a three-part series provides detailed, practical guidance on how student parents can be supported to succeed at UK universities

Andy Todd

University of Chester

Father and son at an airport

A guide to supporting student parents at university: part one

The first in a three-part series provides an overview on how student parents can be supported to succeed at UK universities

Andy Todd

University of Chester

podcast graphic

Campus Talks: Supporting student success at all stages of the university journey

University of Chester vice-chancellor Eunice Simmons talks about effective strategies for widening access and embedding equity in higher education

Eunice Simmons

University of Chester

Students debating something in class

Active learning: what can we learn from secondary teaching?

A great deal of teaching in higher education appears to be inactive, despite the proven benefits of active learning. Here are some practical active learning strategies

Sarah Shaw

University of Chester

A group of four students working on a project

Use student-centred learning strategies to motivate international business students

Support your international students by incorporating strategies that promote student-centred learning into your teaching

Giselle Bate

University of Chester

Old books in a library

To combat antisemitism in HE, teach students about Jewish history

When done well, history education can be a bridge to greater understanding, tolerance and respect, writes Hannah Ewence. Here, she offers guidance on a more nuanced approach to teaching Jewish history to university students

Hannah Ewence

University of Chester

Students at an employability event at university

Empowering international students for global career success

Supporting our students to prosper and thrive is not only beneficial to them but also to the broader community

Alex Fenton, Trevor Omoruyi

University of Chester

Students chatting outside a campus building

It’s all in the presentation: how to engage international students during lectures

The visual dimension of lectures and seminars can create additional challenges for international students, but simple strategies can help in creating useful presentations that support learning

Mark Whalley

University of Chester

Students holding flags

Mind your language: inclusive teaching for international students

Learning about your international students and being mindful about how you use language in classes can have a profound impact on students’ experience and attainment

Mark Whalley

University of Chester

Students engaged in a classroom game

Arts-based methods to foster participatory and interactive learning

Arts-based methods in university teaching centre individual human values and relationships as key contributors in learning. Anne Pässilä and Allan Owens offer advice on how this can be achieved

Anne Pässilä, Allan Owens

Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology LUT, University of Chester

Advice on using blogs to showcase and assess students' knowledge

Students as educators: the value of assessed blogs to showcase learning

Assessed blogs can help translate the thrill of interactive learning into tangible outcomes that enrich and showcase students’ knowledge. Here’s how to do it

Matt Davies

University of Chester

Using anonymous polling platforms in online teaching to boost student participation

Anonymous polling platforms to boost student confidence, engagement and inclusivity

Students are often reticent to speak up in front of large groups online, but when offered anonymous ways to share thoughts and feedback, most are keen to participate. Christina Stanley explains how to put this to good use

Christina Stanley

University of Chester