A report has been published today detailing a review of impact of projects funded under the first three rounds of the National Forum’s Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund. The report provides a high-level overview of the impact of the 32 Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund projects which were completed up to December 2018. It also shares valuable lessons for the benefit of the entire sector about achieving, sustaining, capturing and communicating impact in higher education.
The Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund projects 2014-18 represented an investment of circa €4.74m over five years in teaching and learning in Irish higher education. The evidence presented in this report indicates that this investment resulted in enhanced learning experiences, advances in underpinning systems and structures and a culture of enhancement which has developed significantly in the years since 2014. In addition, Ireland’s international reputation as a leader in the area of teaching and learning was reinforced.
The 32 funded projects saw over 400 staff collaborate across 25 institutions, engaging approximately 12,500 members of the higher education community in the enhancement of teaching and learning in higher education. An analysis of project impact reports, presentations and discussions with project teams revealed the following key impacts:
- Student learning experiences have been enhanced.
- There is an increased appreciation for, and commitment to, ensuring the meaningful involvement of students in teaching and learning enhancement.
- The central role of teaching and learning to the student experience is more widely understood and supported.
- Strong, collaborative links have been built across roles, fields of study, and institutions.
- A culture of enhancement has been advanced through shared learning, synergies across projects and a building of sectoral capacity.
- The professional learning and development of participants and team members has been enhanced.
- Engagement with digital technology in teaching and learning has become more confident, sophisticated and widespread.
- Structured engagement with the National Professional Development Framework has resulted in a clearer understanding of the nature and importance of professional development.
- Developed resources, platforms and frameworks are now underpinning innovative teaching and learning practices.
- Engagement with, and appreciation for, the scholarship of teaching and learning has increased.
The National Forum would like to extend sincere and deep gratitude to the many project team members across the sector who took the time to contribute to this report.
The full report can be accessed here.
