Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (Driving Enhancement through Capacity Building in Irish Higher Education)

Proposals must be collaborative with a minimum of 3 partners

Proposals are invited from existing regional clusters or other inter institutional collaborations to stimulate regional collaboration and innovation in teaching in learning with a focus on building the capacity of middle and/or senior managers to become digital champions and leaders of teaching and learning enhancement. Proposals should outline a fully developed, integrated strategy for the creation and provision of professional development opportunities that align with the national professional framework 2016.

To avoid duplication and facilitate collaboration the National Forum has provided a collaborative space on its website to enable partners to be identified here.

The criteria against which the proposals will be evaluated will include an assessment of

• The clarity and coherence of the strategy for the creation and provision of identified professional development opportunities
• The focus on targeting middle and senior managers whose  potential roles in leading teaching and learning and as digital champions would benefit from development and strategic alignment.
• The clarity of the rationale and rigour of the evidence base for selecting the particular opportunities to be developed.
• The extent of alignment with the national professional development framework 2016 including recognising the potential for accreditation through the National Certification Badging initiative, where appropriate.
• Evidence of integration of existing professional provision, where appropriate.
• The clarity of implementation plans indicating, broad capacity for freeing up time, numbers targeted, identification of impact and added value in the leadership space.
• The clarity of the approach for measuring and evaluating impact.
• The extent to which sustainability after the project has been considered
• The strength of evidence of a coherent partnership approach across the regional cluster or collaboration along with good intra-institutional collaboration.
• The overall standard of the proposal as judged by the International review panel.
• The extent to which the proposal represents value for money.
• The involvement and active collaboration of at least three institutions in the proposal.
• The inclusion of an agreement that all resources/materials developed will be available through open access and designed with the potential for future adaptation at a local level in mind.

Key Dates Proposal Type 01

Proposal Submission Date October 25th 2016

Initial Feedback and guidance from International Panel November 8th 2016

Open Forum Presentation Nov. 30th and Dec. 1st 2016

Project Completion (including eval.) December 2018

Budget Limit Guideline 100-150K 

The funding allocation process will take account of the size of each individual institution and the number of institutions in a particular collaboration, if appropriate.  The minimum number of institutions in any collaboration will be three. The funding allocated will typically range between 100-150K

Proposals can be collaborative with a minimum of 3 partners or can be made by a single institution

The consultative process associated with the development of the national professional development framework highlighted the need to look specifically at the professional development needs within different disciplines.  The evidence gathered strongly suggests that professional development works best when it is coordinated at the level of the academic unit working in partnership with associated support departments. Proposals in this category must be led by Deans/Heads of Department/School/Faculty with a strong focus on discipline-specific pedagogies for enhancement and impact on student learning within fields of study.  Only one proposal per disciplinary area will be funded and academic units who are currently completing projects funded through the Teaching and Learning enhancement fund 2015 are not eligible to apply for this project type.  Proposals are welcome from a single institution or from a collaboration between similar discipline groups across institutions In the case of a collaborative bid the minimum number of institutions in any collaboration will be three.  To avoid duplication and facilitate collaboration the National Forum has provided a collaborative space on to enable partners to be identified.

Proposals are sought from discipline groups/departments/schools/faculty (unit) across a regional cluster or other collaborative network or from a single institution outlining a coherent strategy for identifying and meeting the professional development of their academic and support staff.

The criteria against which the proposals will be evaluated will include an assessment of:

• The clarity and coherence of the strategy for identifying the professional development needs of all staff within the discipline group/department/school/faculty (unit).
• The inclusion of student perspective on learning within a disciplinary context and the extent to which these perspectives are integrated into the professional development strategy.
• The extent of the alignment with the national professional development framework 2016 including recognising the potential for accreditation through the National Certification Badging initiative, where appropriate.
• The extent of the alignment of professional development capacity building with institutional and academic unit teaching and learning strategies.
• The strength of the evidence of integration of existing professional provision, if appropriate.
• The clarity of the implementation plan that demonstrates innovation indicating, broad capacity for freeing up time, numbers targeted, clear identification of impact and added value to the unit.
• The robustness of the approach for measuring and evaluating impact and is explicit about the type of impact the project is expected to have.
• The ongoing sustainability of the project activity beyond the time frame of the funded period.

• The extent to which the proposal complements institutional and regional efforts and increases overall impact with a better use of the limited resources available.
• The extent to which the proposal facilitates staff and student peer-to-peer learning and collegiality.
• The extent to which the learning of implementing and managing a professional development strategy within a discipline group/department/school/faculty across a cluster/collaboration for national impact will be shared.

• The clarity of the approach for measuring and evaluating impact.
• The strength of evidence of a coherent partnership approach across the regional cluster or collaboration along with good intra-institutional collaboration.
• The overall standard of the proposal as judged by the International review panel.
• The extent to which the proposal represents value for money.
• The involvement and active collaboration of at least three institutions in the proposal, where appropriate.
• The inclusion of an agreement that all resources/materials developed will be available through open access and designed with the potential for future adaptation at a local level in mind.

Key Dates Proposal Type 02

Proposal Submission Date October 25th 2016

Initial Feedback and guidance from International Panel November 8th 2016

Open Forum Presentation Nov. 30th and Dec. 1st 2016

Project Completion (including eval.) December 2018

Budget Limit Guideline 100-150K

The funding allocation process will take account of the size of each individual institution and the number of institutions in a particular collaboration, if appropriate.  The minimum number of institutions in any collaboration will be three. The funding allocated will typically range between 100-150k

Proposals can be collaborative with a minimum of 3 partners or from a single institution

Proposals are invited from existing regional clusters or other inter institutional collaborations or from individual institutions align their existing professional development provision with the national framework. Proposals should outline a fully developed, integrated strategy for the alignment of existing professional development provision with the national professional framework 2016 that involves all potential stakeholders (support staff, discipline groups etc.).  Development and alignment activities will be supported.  Delivery of provision is not supported under this project type. The development of any additional accredited programmes will not be supported.

It is envisaged that proposals of this type will be submitted by each regional cluster[1] or other collaboration or by a single institution.  In redesign the innovations in accredited professional development programme provision and pedagogy including RPL would be welcome but note that the fund very clearly supports development and alignment but not the provision of such programmes.  Care needs to be taken to ensure that any redesign or development including any increase in credit does not give rise to unsustainable provision that cannot be resourced by the institution into the future.  It is envisaged that in some circumstances clear alignment and strong innovation may give rise to more sustainable and coherent processes.

The criteria against which the proposals will be evaluated will include an assessment of:

• The clarity and coherence of the strategy and implementation plan for the alignment and enhancement of existing professional development provision to reflect the national framework recognising the potential for accreditation through the National Certification Badging initiative, if appropriate.
• The robustness and breadth of the consultation with all potential stakeholders during the redesign process.
• The extent to which innovative pedagogy and provision including RPL has been considered as a key aspect of the alignment.
• The clarity of the approach for measuring and evaluating impact.
• The ongoing sustainability of the project activity beyond the time frame of the funded period.
• The strength of evidence of a coherent partnership approach across the regional cluster or collaboration along with good intra-institutional collaboration, where relevant.
• The overall standard of the proposal as judged by the International review panel.
• The extent to which the proposal represents value for money.
• In the case of collaborative proposals the involvement and active collaboration of at least three institutions.
• The inclusion of an agreement that all resources/materials developed will be available through open access and designed with the potential for future adaptation at a local level in mind.

Key Dates Proposal Type 03

Proposal Submission Date October 25th 2016

Initial Feedback and guidance from International Panel November 8th 2016

Open Forum Presentation Nov. 30th and Dec. 1st 2016

Project Completion (including eval.) June 2018

Budget Limit Guideline 50-75K

The funding allocation process will take account of the size of each individual institution and the number of institutions in a particular collaboration, if appropriate.  The minimum number of institutions in any collaboration will be three.  The funding allocated will typically range between 50-75K

[1] (as outlined on pp.20–21 of the HEA report at http://www.hea.ie/sites/default/files/report_to_minister_-_system_configuration_2_0.pdf

Scope of the Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund 2016 (Driving Enhancement through Capacity Building in Irish Higher Education)

• A thoroughly consultative and collaborative approach has already been adopted in order to develop and articulate the emerging digital roadmap and national professional development framework. The resulting approach to funding allocation (outlined below) will aim to ensure that the proposal and allocation process is as collaborative, appropriate, transparent and inclusive as possible. The aim will be to ensure that funded projects optimise the synergies and scope that can be enabled by strong inter-and intra-institutional collaboration, for maximum national impact.

• The Fund will not be allocated to the creation of physical capacity or to proposals that could reasonably be expected to be funded from other public funding sources, e.g. research funding agencies, core grant funding. It will fund new initiatives and also activities that clearly build on or develop existing initiatives. All proposals must clearly show how they enhance or transform learning experiences for students.
• Institutions may only propose projects for completion within the timeframe  and within the budget guideline indicated for each individual proposal type.
• Proposals should have regard for their lasting impact beyond the time frame of the initiative. Proposals should aim to give rise to real, beneficial & long-term change.
• While recognising the developing focus and different criteria of successive funding calls proposers are advised to read the comments from the international panel on the proposals submitted in response to other Teaching and Learning Enhancement calls e.g., https://www.teachingandlearning.ie/?p=16508
• Budget Guidelines and Upper Limits for proposals.
  Proposals must adhere to the indicative budget guideline and upper limit for each proposal type.
• Assessment Panel and Process – All Proposals must be of excellent quality and will be assessed by an independent panel of international experts.  Institutions should have regard to this international dimension of the process, and should seek to use best international practice and theory to inform their proposals.
  For all proposal types the panel will have the right to recommend amendments to all proposals submitted for greater national impact and value for money.

Key Dates All Proposals

• Proposal Submission Date October 25th 2016
• Initial Feedback and guidance from International Panel November 8th 2016
• Open Forum Presentation Nov. 30th and Dec. 1st 2016
• Project Completion (including eval.)  
  • Project Type 01 December 2018
  • Project Type 02 December 2018
  • Project Type 03 June 2018
• Budget Limit Guideline
  • Project Type 01 100-150K
  • Project Type 02 100-150K
  • Project Type 03 50-75K

Monitoring

The National Forum will monitor the allocation of the enhancement fund on an ongoing basis. Institutions receiving funding will report regularly to the National Forum on:

1. Activities undertaken; and
2. Objectives attained, as defined in each initiative’s implementation plan.

For all proposals an interim financial report, must be submitted dates to be confirmed. The National Forum may also put in place independent reviews of the projects funded.

The release of funds will be dependent upon the submission of satisfactory financial reports. A portion of the allocation will be retained pending completion of the project and a satisfactory final report including an evaluation of the proposal in terms of the agreed targets and performance indicators.

Failure on the part of an institution to provide adequate and timely information and/or failure to achieve objectives will be taken into account in any future calls and will result in the exclusion of the institution(s) concerned.  Significant departure from the objectives of the proposal may result in the funding awarded being suspended or revoked.

Any deviation from the agreed activities, objectives and time lines will impact upon the release of the funding to the institution.

Queries and clarifications

The National Forum will take queries from all institutions up to the date of the presentation. All queries and responses will be dealt with via a dedicated publicly accessible National Forum Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund 2016 FAQ section on the submission interface from Late August 2016. For all queries in the meantime, please visit teachingandlearning.ie/contact.