GEES Subject Centre Learning and Teaching Development Fund- 2010 onwards
The deadline for the next round of funding is the 15th March.
Contents
- The GEES SC Learning and Teaching Development Fund- 2010 onwards
- The Submission Process
- The Selection Process and other information
- Current Projects
The GEES Learning and Teaching Development Fund- 2010 onwards
The HE Academy Subject Centre for Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (GEES SC) is offering funding of up to £15, 000 per project to support learning and teaching in the GEES disciplines at any level of higher education in the UK. The funding will be awarded by open competition to projects that enhance student learning in one or more of the GEES disciplines. It is expected that funding will range from £2000 to £15, 000, with support available for individual practitioners, departments, cross-institution and co-discipline consortia. We currently anticipate two calls per year, in January and in May.
Programme Aims
The overall aims of this programme are as follows:
- To support curriculum developments, learning & teaching research, and other innovations which will enhance the quality of students’ learning experience and/or enrich the learning and teaching research literature
- To provide individuals with the opportunity to engage and collaborate on learning & teaching developments with colleagues in their own department.
- To provide opportunities for individuals, departments and institutions to collaborate, share and transfer practice.
- To recognise existing staff expertise, and identify and encourage fresh talent.
- To offer opportunities for professional development of staff in the three disciplines.
- To disseminate good practice to the wider communities.
- To widen participation in the Subject Centre’s work
Topics
We welcome proposals on any theme relevant to learning and teaching in Higher Education. Topics might include:
- Assessment and feedback;
- Working with the National Student Survey;
- Developing Open Educational Resources;
- External Examiners;
- Education for Sustainable Development.
The Submission Process
Who can apply?
- Any member of staff who is responsible for the student learning experience in GEES HE (including HE in FE) is eligible to apply, this includes academic staff and discipline-based support staff.
- Proposals are welcome from individual departments, cross-institutional collaborations and collaborations between departments. Relevant professional departments are also eligible, although these bids must have named institution-based academic leads to take responsibility and ensure delivery.
What can the funding be used for?
- The funding may provide one-off or pump priming support for developing learning and teaching (student) resources, staff development resources (including events), and/or research into learning and teaching.
- Individuals or groups may bid for funding in one or more of the three disciplines (geography, earth and environmental sciences and closely allied areas).
- The projects may address any level of higher education including Foundation Degrees, Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate (Masters) and training for research students. Community / outreach-related projects will also be considered.
Conditions
- The project outcomes and / or research findings should be of use to other HE institutions in the UK (through e.g. software, web-sites, articles or case studies) and must be easily accessible to colleagues at other institutions.
- Projects bids should be submitted with the support of the department(s) / school(s). Projects should seek local guidance from their institutional support services or relevant educational development or learning technology unit.
- It is anticipated that project funding will be matched in kind by the host department, usually through the waiver of departmental or institutional overheads and in funding of equipment.
- Funding will be paid 50% at the start of the project and 50% on acceptance of the final report.
- Project bids should be submitted in accordance with the ‘Submission of Proposals’ format described below.
- Dissemination should include presentations at local, national and international conferences and publications as appropriate, including a final report for Planet, the GEES SC's publication.
- Support is provided through a project network meeting that will provide opportunities for fine-tuning project plans/deliverables, sharing ideas and networking with colleagues.
Funding Available
It is expected that funding for individual projects will normally be in the range £2, 000 - £15, 000. You can apply for funding to meet the costs of your project, these costs may include the following:
- Travel and subsistence expenses (does not need to include project network meeting)
- Staffing (e.g. administrative or research assistance; replacement teaching costs)
- Consumables
- Equipment: requests for technological hardware or software will be considered only if the requirement for such costs is clearly explained and justified.
Full Economic Costing (FEC)
It has been brought to our attention that some institutions are applying FEC to small-scale projects and that this is acting as a barrier to bidding. There is unfortunately little we at the Subject Centre can do to mitigate this. Please discuss this issue with your Head of School or equivalent. Typically, the FEC may be waived where the funding is part of ‘training’ of new members of academic staff or agreed as a part 'match-funding' towards the project.
Submission of Proposals
Proposals should be received no later than 15th March 2010. They should include:
- a completed proforma - download proposal proforma
- a brief description of the proposed project under the following headings (max. 2 sides A4)
- List of project team members, including external collaborators, and any internal links to e.g. institutional educational development units.
- Background, context and rationale. Please include references to relevant literature, any current departmental activity relevant to the project, and the expected impact on students and staff.
- Project and work plan, including aims, outcomes and outputs. Please provide a simple Gant chart showing milestones, timings and lead researcher for each section/activity of project.
- Resources needed, including detailed budget outline and justification (salaries, time buyout, materials etc. Where equipment is sought, match funding is encouraged).
- Dissemination strategy (workshops, Planet, conference presentations etc.)
- Evaluation Procedures (e.g. progress monitoring and evaluation of project outcomes)
- a brief description of the project team's previous engagement with learning and teaching research and/or development (max. 1 side A4)
Please send your proposal electronically by email (to jane.dalrymple@plymouth.ac.uk) with an accompanying signed hard copy of the proforma by post or fax (see contact details). An electronic receipt will be sent once we receive your proposal.
The Selection Process
Proposals will be selected by a panel consisting of members of the GEES Subject Centre team, the GEES SC Advisory Board and other appropriate GEES colleagues where necessary. Advice will also be sought from other experts as appropriate.
All proposers will be informed individually of the outcome within 4 weeks. A list of the successful projects will be posted on the GEES web-site.
Networking Support
If you are interested in putting together a collaborative proposal and would like support in identifying like-minded colleagues from other institutions please contact us.
Proposal-Writing Advice
If you would like advice on writing your proposal or comments on a draft, we can put you in touch with a previous successful applicant for support and guidance. Please contact Prof. Pauline Kneale for further information (pauline.kneale@plymouth.ac.uk).
To submit a proposal please contact:
Jane Dalrymple,
GEES Subject Centre,
Buckland House,
Drake Circus,
Plymouth PL4 8AA
Email: jane.dalrymple@plymouth.ac.uk
Fax: 01752 584529
Phone: 01752 58488