A number of developments have taken place with the HEA/National Forum Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement (SATLE) Fund in recent weeks. During 22-25 March, 44 funded teams across 17 higher education institutions took part in the second round of mid-term reviews of initiatives funded through the 2019 SATLE Fund. In all, 194 institutional representatives attended over the four days as teams showcased their work and participated in discussions with a panel of student and international reviewers. The panel included international experts from Canada, Hungary, Malta, Portugal, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, as well as National Forum Student Associates from Athlone IT, Dorset College, Dundalk IT, Maynooth University, NUI Galway, TU Dublin, University College Dublin and University of Limerick.
Reviewed initiatives across subject areas focus on topics such as sustainability, creative practice, virtual reality, data literacy, inter-professional teaching and learning, self-directed learning, spatial skill development, employability, inclusive learning, intercultural communication, professional development, data analytics and student success. A range of approaches have been taken by institutions and departments through their initiatives, such as policy innovation, programme design and development, self-study, digital innovation, developing responsible leadership, experiential learning, and developing assessment literacy.
Collectively, the 107 initiatives funded through the 2019 SATLE Fund represent an investment of €5.57m focused on ensuring that teaching and learning within and across subject areas is characterised by innovation, coherence, connectedness and meaningful student engagement. The funding of these initiatives is resulting in increased collaboration and alignment at local level in the achievement of ambitions set out in institutional strategies.
Initiatives proposed under the 2020 SATLE Fund are also currently under review by an international panel, including experts from Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, the UK and the US. In all, 80 initiative proposals were received across 22 higher education institutions under the €5m 2020 call, announced by Minister Simon Harris, T.D. on 09 November. The focus of the 2020 call is on Transforming Teaching and Learning for Student Success and the majority of proposed initiatives are focused at institutional level, aiming to foster identified enablers of student success while leveraging the learning that has taken place over the past year. Feedback from the review of 2020 proposals will be sent to institutions in the coming days.
We extend heartfelt congratulations to all institutions on their remarkable work to date, especially in light of the challenges they have faced within the pandemic context.
You can view information on all ongoing SATLE initiatives here.
