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Professional insight from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) is an international joint venture founded by Xi’an Jiaotong University in China and the University of Liverpool in the UK. As an independent Sino-foreign cooperative university, it captures the essence of both prestigious parent universities and is the first and only one of its kind approved by the Ministry of Education in China. The university offers about 90 degree programmes in science, engineering, business, finance, architecture, urban planning, language and culture, and all are taught in English, except for general and basic courses.
Copyright © 2025 THE - Times Higher Education. All rights reserved. Lessons for academics in resilience , persistence and coping with failure
Rejection is part of every academic journey , but that doesn ’ t make it easier to bear . Drawing from personal experiences , Bhawana Shrestha reflects on how …
Content is king in EAP teaching
Content - based instruction is reshaping English for academic purposes teaching by making subject matter central to language learning . Garth Elzerman and …
Four ways to help students develop critical thinking skills
Students ’ success increasingly depends on their ability to demonstrate critical thinking and research skills . Here are four ways to help them develop these complex …
How to get students asking better questions
Better questions can spark deeper discussions , boost engagement and develop critical thinking . These practical strategies – from questioning frameworks to …
Build rapport to encourage Chinese students to speak up
Faced with students ’ shyness and culture shock , how can English for academic purposes teachers on international branch campuses help them gain confidence in speaking …
The Chinese framework that can build student resilience
The HeXie framework can help students solve problems and build a sense of unity with their environment – an essential skill in uncertain times . Discover the theory …
Campus webinar : How to embed sustainability into the curriculum
Hear experts discuss how they engage students in climate - conscious learning , build sustainability into course design and connect it to employability and wider …
Three ways to get students using GenAI in project - based learning
How to use project - based learning to address ethical concerns and improve students ’ AI literacy , including key questions to ask yourself before introducing the tools
How to use think - pair - share to improve classroom discussions
Educators can modify the think - pair - share strategy to help students craft more detailed responses and take greater ownership of discussions . Learn how
How I use social media as a research tool
Drawing from her autoethnographic experiences , Bhawana Shrestha discusses how she uses social media platforms to deepen collaboration , enrich …
AI - proof project - based assessments by making them context - specific
Project - based assessments rooted in real - world , institution - specific contexts help reduce over - reliance on GenAI by emphasising collaboration , oral defence …
Use peer assessment to give students more accountability in group projects
Structured peer assessment can significantly improve student engagement and accountability in group work . Read about two methods that led film students to produce …
How I teach students to assess each other ’ s work
Peer marking helps students build valuable skills and reflect on their own work . Here ’ s how to make the process smooth and effective
Less is more when it comes to AI in teaching
As more educators adopt AI , the risk of becoming overwhelmed by the tools increases . Here are four practical strategies to prevent this
Common barriers to belonging and how to overcome them
Belonging in higher education goes beyond access – it ’ s about feeling seen , valued and supported . This resource explores the barriers that prevent true inclusion and …
Traditional ecological knowledge can inspire students to take climate action
Combining ancient wisdom with modern knowledge does not just broaden perspectives , it can also prompt climate action . Discover more benefits , and read advice on …
How to encourage peer review in online courses
A framework and practical strategies to train students to provide constructive peer feedback that improves learning outcomes
Student insight can shape the way we use GenAI in teaching
Students tend to be more comfortable with teachers using GenAI to support , rather than fully generate , learning materials . The key is to use it effectively and communicate …
How to talk to students about their writing
Verbal feedback can encourage students to think critically and independently about their language learning and improve future work . These tips explain how to …
Give everyone a chance to speak in class
Implementing turn - taking protocols and allowing students time to prepare are two strategies that ensure every student has an equal opportunity to participate in …
Using AI to foster self - directed learning
You can promote self - directed learning by breaking down tasks and integrating an AI chatbot into your course management system . Here ’ s how
How we reassure accounting students that AI won ’ t take their jobs
Hearing first - hand from industry professionals about AI ’ s impact on workplaces can alleviate career anxiety . Here is how to organise firm visits and prompt post - activity …
Authentic assessment design for computer programming master ’ s courses
A four - step plan for more meaningful assessment that incorporates AI - assisted evaluation , group discussions and presentations
Say goodbye to boring presentations
GenAI can supercharge your PowerPoint presentations to offer students interactive opportunities that increase participation and deepen learning . Here ’ s how
How to prevent compassion fatigue
Many educators experience compassion fatigue at some point in their careers . Prevent it by shifting your perspective , setting boundaries and building strong support …
Integrating sustainability into a financial and actuarial mathematics course
Advice on delivering sustainability - focused guest lectures in collaboration with industry experts and reinforcing learning with project - based assessments
Engaging students through poster presentations : a case study
Read about how a poster presentation task can promote students ’ engagement with course content and each other
How living with blepharospasm helped me become a better teacher
Read about a strategy that helped an educator living with an eye condition build emotional resilience and create a more inclusive classroom environment
We use ChatGPT to give feedback on students ’ abstracts
Teaching students whose first language is not English to write concise abstracts helps them develop their academic writing skills , but providing feedback on them can often …
Let me introduce you to the art of saying hello
A creative introduction sparks engagement , builds rapport and creates an atmosphere conducive to learning . Here are ways to make a good first impression
Using GenAI tools to refine EAP assessment
There are several tools available to help English for academic purposes assess students ’ writing skills . Here is some guidance on how to use a selection of them
Using emotions to boost learning
A professor explains how he leverages emotions to enhance students ’ learning , using an approach called ‘ mastering emotions in entrepreneurship education ’
Let students know they don ’ t know
Overconfidence often prevents students from being able to identify areas of weakness . As teachers , we must help them realise what they are
Using philosophy to enhance online students ’ critical thinking skills
Online courses often lack the kind of spontaneity that builds critical thinking skills . So how can we make up for this ?
Ways to empower EAP students to give high - quality feedback
Helping English for academic purposes students provide better quality feedback to their peers can give them more autonomy and free up teachers ’ time
Want to increase student satisfaction ? Activate higher - order thinking skills
Activating students ’ higher - order thinking skills enhances student satisfaction , research shows . Here are some examples of ways to do it
Four things you can do right now to improve your teaching
Want to improve your teaching but not sure where to start ? Rebecca Wakelin offers quick practical strategies that will kickstart efforts to enhance your teaching practice
The humble whiteboard : the most flexible learning tool in your classroom
The whiteboard serves as a powerful tool to help students visualise concepts , facilitate group work and provide immediate feedback , aligning with the theory that …
A new way of ensuring repeated EAP vocabulary exposure
Practical steps to enhance student vocabulary learning through a systematic approach that assures repeated exposure to important terms
How to start a language - teaching podcast
Suggestions for teachers who want to create podcasts to supplement formal classroom learning , based on the experience of an English for academic purposes teacher
Optional extracurricular modules can enhance business students ’ employability
This resource offers guidance on how to design and promote extracurricular courses that you can offer alongside academic ones to boost employability
Use gamification to teach complex international relations concepts
Simulations and games can significantly enhance students ’ understanding of complex topics and help them apply relevant theories in real - world contexts
Four ways to integrate the SDGs into English language classes
Connecting the Sustainable Development Goals with language teaching and learning can provide meaningful learning experiences , writes Chaonan …
What is metacognition ? Get students thinking about their thinking
What is metacognition and how can we get students to evaluate and improve their thinking ?
Practical strategies for overcoming challenges in interdisciplinary project - based learning
Overcome project - based learning challenges with strategies aimed at empowering students to develop interdisciplinary skill sets
The challenges facing female leaders in higher education – and how to address them
Women still face many hurdles on the road to leadership in higher education . Qiuling Chao outlines how we can overcome them
Use Etherpad to improve engagement in large transnational classes
By leveraging technology to create an anonymous and collaborative space , educators can empower hesitant students to actively contribute and foster a more …
Use a social approach to boost language learning
Using social activities fosters a more dynamic and meaningful connection between students and the language they ’ re learning . Yanfang Si offers guidance on building …
We used a hybrid escape room to dramatically boost student attendance
Low class attendance has been a growing trend since the pandemic , so how can we encourage students to come back ? Educators at Xi ' an Jiaotong - Liverpool University …
Using simulation games to teach lean manufacturing
Simulation games can improve students ’ understanding of lean manufacturing . Here are five tips for incorporating them into your teaching practice
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