THE Connect

Social and emotional learning (SEL) refers to the development of students’ abilities to understand and manage emotions, build positive relationships, make responsible decisions and navigate complex social environments. While traditionally emphasised in primary and secondary education, SEL is increasingly recognised as critical in higher education. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host A...

The Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences at City University of Hong Kong focuses on shaping students to be compassionate about animal welfare and nurturing their development as emerging veterinary scientists In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Sreethu Sajeev speaks with Vanessa Barrs, dean of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, and...

Led by researchers at Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University, the LINKS project evaluates and strengthens evidence-based early-childhood programmes in conflict-affected countries, developing culturally grounded models that connect quality early education with long-term social cohesion and peacebuilding outcomes. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with...

The Centre for Precision Technologies at the University of Huddersfield advances precision engineering through integrated research, doctoral training and close collaboration with industry partners. Through diverse funding streams and strategic innovation efforts, the centre delivers both fundamental research and real-world manufacturing impact while preparing for emerging technologies. In this epi...

Digital technologies give universities powerful ways to enhance how students learn, but the real challenge lies in using them effectively. Too often, new tools are introduced without input from those who will use them, leading to poor adoption. At Queen’s University Belfast, the Centre for Technological Innovation, Mental Health and Education collaborates with clinicians and educators to design im...

A partnership between University of Exeter and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has seen the two institutions collaborating to share resources, expertise and ideas relating to sport science. The partnership is addressing the needs of India’s rapidly growing sports sector, improving outcomes for elite athletes and increasing participation at the grassroots level. In this episode of the THE...

From the science of hearing and spatial perception to innovations in sound design, psychoacoustic research is transforming the way we listen. Audio and psychoacoustic engineering explore how humans perceive sound and how researchers use that knowledge to shape audio technology. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Hyunkook Lee, a professor of audio and psycho...

The communities of microorganisms living within and around us shape the way infections begin, progress and resolve. By studying the microbiome alongside pathogens, researchers are uncovering why some individuals are more resilient than others and how this insight could transform prevention and treatment strategies. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Jo Foth...

UK railway research is making rail transport more competitive, environmentally friendly and passenger-centric – both at home and abroad. The Institute of Railway Research at the University of Huddersfield works with academic, industry and government partners to ensure that its research has real-world impact. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Paul Allen, di...

Rapid advances in AI are fundamentally altering how work is organised worldwide. Enterprises are rethinking how they operate, roles are being redesigned, and the skills required to succeed are evolving faster than ever. In response to these changes, Huawei has published a white paper, ICT Job Roles and Skills in the Intelligent World, offering guidance for organisations, educators and policymakers...

The landscape of forensic investigation and national security is rapidly evolving, demanding a sophisticated fusion of academic rigour and operational experience. At the forefront of this movement is the University of Huddersfield, which is taking a pioneering approach to investigative psychology. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with John Synnott, who is dire...

As AI transforms every facet of society, universities face the challenge of rethinking how we learn, teach and innovate. The National University of Singapore's School of Computing is rethinking its curriculum to move beyond traditional knowledge delivery and embrace AI-enabled, lifelong learning. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Tulika Mitra, dean of the...

Investigations into the Holocaust and other instances of mass violence require a compassionate approach that brings together disciplines from forensic science to poetry. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Caroline Sturdy Colls, a professor of Holocaust archaeology and genocide investigation at the University of Huddersfield. This episode is sponsored by the...

Faced with the urgency and severity of the climate crisis, and growing volumes of disinformation sowing doubt and confusion, universities must work together to ensure that those charged with making decisions affecting the future of our planet are provided with the robust, evidenced analysis they need. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Stuart Brocklehurst,...

The global population is projected to hit nearly 10 billion by 2050, creating a significant rise in demand for food. Societies urgently need to rethink traditional sources of protein, keeping environmental, ethical and health implications at the forefront of research. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, host Sreethu Sajeev speaks with Weibiao Zhou, head of the Department of Food Science an...

Advances in neuroscience and AI are improving our understanding of how the brain develops, ages and becomes vulnerable to disease. As scalable technologies bring the possibility of population-level brain health monitoring closer to reality, researchers are looking to a future where neuroscience, medicine and AI converge to transform care and prevention. In this episode of the THE Connect podcast,...

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with Nazarbayev University, host Phil Baty speaks with Waqar Ahmad, president of Nazarbayev University. They discuss the universities rapid rise in global university rankings, the landscape of higher education in Kazakhstan, and Ahmad's vision for the future.

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with City University of Hong Kong, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Benjamin Horton, dean of the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong. They discuss the urgent and grave threat that climate collapse poses to communities and ecosystems. Horton explains the vital role that higher education has to play in pr...

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the University of Liverpool, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Iain Buchan, W.H. Duncan Chair in Public Health Systems and associate pro vice-chancellor for innovation, and Procheta Sen, lecturer in computer science at the University of Liverpool. They discuss the university's the AI for Life research frontier, which places hum...

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with City University of Hong Kong, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Christine Huang, head of communication and media at City University of Hong Kong. They discuss how rapid advances in healthcare technologies and the constant flow of information shape the public's understanding of and response to health risks. Standing at the inter...

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with Huawei, host Alistair Lawrence speaks with Justin Mendes, director of applied and technical English and cross-cultural communications at Shenyang Institute of Technology. They discuss how Shenyang Institute of Technology's partnership with Huawei is setting a new standard in industry-education integration and talent cultivati...

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with City University of Hong Kong, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Michael Yang, senior vice-president for innovation and enterprise and director of the Institute of Digital Medicine at City University of Hong Kong. They discuss how digital medicine is revolutionising the way we prevent, diagnose and manage diseases, exploring the...

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with the National University of Singapore, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Bryan Low, associate vice-president for AI, and associate professor of computer science at the university. They discuss the way AI is rapidly reshaping the landscape of higher education and how NUS is shaping its future. 

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with City University of Hong Kong, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Anderson Shum, vice-president of research at the university. They discuss why interdisciplinary science research is important, the practical challenges inherent in interdisciplinary science, and the areas of interdisciplinary science research that CityUHK excels in...

In this episode of the THE Connect podcast, produced in partnership with Queen's University Belfast, host Ashton Wenborn speaks with Laura Lundy, professor of children’s rights and co-director of the Centre for Children’s Rights at Queen’s University Belfast, and Deirdre Reidy, assistant principal officer of the Participation, Play and Recreation Unit in the Irish government’s Department of Childr...