Criteria for evaluating project bids
Contents: Theme(s) | Criteria | Format of TDF Bids| Useful Sources of Information
As part of its Learning and Teaching Strategy the University has continued its commitment to a Teaching Development Fund. The University Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee (ULTQC) invites project bids for the latest round of teaching development funding (£60,000).
For projects to be undertaking in the academic year 2012/13 the allocation will be made at the meeting of the ULTQC on 31 May 2012, on the recommendation of a small sub-group (meeting on 11 May 2012). Between 1999/2000 and 2011/12 around one hundred separate TDF projects have been funded totalling approximately £705,000. The average amount awarded per TDF project in a given year has varied from £4,628 to 11,354.
A list of previously succesful project bids has been published.
Annual Theme(s)
The themes for the 2012/13 round was be agreed by the ULTQC in November 2011. ULTQC agreed that two themes be adopted for 2012/13, which address the following areas of current development at the University:
- E-assessment and Feedback
- Student-led Feedback mechanisms (developing mechanisms to deliver feedback on assessment with students)
TDF bids which demostrate an elememnt of cross-departmental collaboration will be particularly welcomed AND favoured. Evidence is expected to be presented in the bids to show how and the level of student involvement in the development of the bids. It is expected that project bids for 2012/13 would include explicit consideration of inclusivity and diversity issues, but it is not intended that this is the main focus of individual proposals.
Project bid proposals for the 2012/13 round of the Teaching Development Fund need to be emailed, in word document format, to Shaun McGall, Learning and Teaching Development Officer, Student Learning Experience and Quality Team, LTEO, by 5.00 p.m. Monday 16 April 2012.
The project bids will be accessed by a small sub-group of the ULTQC on 11 May 2012, with recommendations made to the full committee, against the agreed criteria, on 31 May 2012.
Reports for completed projects can be found here.
Criteria
The project bids will be assessed by the ULTQC (on the recommendation of a sub-group) on 31 May 2012, against the agreed criteria.
In judging project bids for the 2012/13 round of TDF the sub-group and ULTQC will use the criteria enumerated below. Projects bids should:
- Show evidence that the bid will lead to enhancement of current practice and of the student learning experience in the broadest sense;
- Detail the scale and scope of the project including how students were involved in the development of the bid;
- Show how the bid has cross-departmental collaboration, cross-institutional relevance and the potential for scalability and financial sustainability;
- Demonstrate that the bid fits in with the University’s Learning and Teaching Strategy;
- Include plans for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the bid (guidance on this is available);
- Where the proposal has a strong ICT element and / or where significant infrastructural support is called for show clear evidence of both consultation with and support from relevant departmental / service or University personnel;
- Have clearly researched ‘good practice’ in the area of the bid;
- Provide evidence of prior liaison with the University’s Legal Adviser if an external contractor is to be involved, to ensure that the University is not detrimentally affected by issues concerning copyright;
- Generally NOT request financial support for general capital equipment such as laptops, or current full-time staff salaries. However, support to increase the hours of part-time staff will be considered.
In addition, bigs which demostrate an element of cross-departmental collaboration will be favoured; and individual members of staff are not allowed to submit bids if previously awarded TDF projects they are associated with had not submitted the evaluative report to the Committee.
All proposals should formally show the support of the Head of Department / Head of Service (where appropriate) AND the Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) through an email or electronically signed supporting document accompanying a bid.
Successful project leaders and their deputies will be required to:
- Participate in the TDF project network (support by the Academic Staff Development Team, LTEO)
- Disseminate the lessons learnt via participation in the annual Innovations in Learning and Teaching Event;
- Provide an evaluative report to the University Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee (and onwards to Faculty-level LTQCs). The evaluative report will also serve as a case study and will be posted to the TDF web page.
Format for Bids
Bids should be no more than three sides of A4, and consist of:
- Title;
- Leader and Deputy Leader;
- Theme(s) addressed by the Bid;
- Total Amount of Bid;
- Detailed Financial Breakdown;
- Rationale;
- Outline;
- Aims and Anticipated Outcomes;
- Evidence to support Viability (inc. student involvement in the development of the bid);
- Methods of Evaluation and Dissemination;
- Potential for Future Developments i.e. institutional scalability and financial sustainability;
- Timescale and Benchmarks (inc. approximate date for submission of Evaluative Report);
- Resource Implications (inc. reference to whether the project represents good value for money and details of any possible Intellectual Property Rights);
- Additional staff associated with the project in addition to the Leader and Deputy;
- Sign-off by both the Leader and Deputy Leader;
- Approval by the Head of Department / Head of Service AND the Association Dean (Learning and Teaching).
Project bid proposals for the 2012/13 round of the Teaching Development Fund need to be emailed, in word document format, to Shaun McGall, Learning and Teaching Development Officer, Student Learning Experience and Quality Team, LTEO, by 5.00 p.m. Monday 16 April 2012.