C/2.1 Teaching and learning development grants

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2.1.1 Teaching and Learning Development Grants
2.1.2 Priority areas
2.1.3 Funding
2.1.4 Operation of grant schemes
2.1.5 Faculty ownership and commitment
2.1.6 Selection and approval process
2.1.7 Communication of grant outcomes
Modification History

2.1.1 Teaching and Learning Development Grants

The Teaching and Learning Development Grant schemes fall under the auspices of University Teaching and Learning Committee and align to QUT's strategic priority areas through the Learning and Teaching Plan. Projects funded under the schemes must:

• focus on improving the quality of the student learning experience and student learning outcomes, and
• have the capacity to be operationalised, mainstreamed, sustained and applied beyond the funding period and immediate site of implementation.

Grants are allocated under two schemes:

• Teaching and Learning Development Large Grants. This scheme is currently under review and is not included in this policy.
• Teaching and Learning Development Small Grants for projects in the range of $8,000 to $40,000 each and completed over 18 months. The Small Grant scheme is offered on an annual cycle.

Guidelines for the application process are available on the Teaching and Learning Support Services web page ( https://www.talss.qut.edu.au/staff/grants/ )

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2.1.2 Priority areas

The priority areas for the Teaching and Learning Development Grant scheme align to the Learning and Teaching Plan. Grant projects must address one or more priority areas. University Teaching and Learning Committee's Learning Experiences and Curriculum Working Party makes recommendations to University Teaching and Learning Committee on priority areas.

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2.1.3 Funding

The University allocates annually a discrete amount of its operating budget as the Teaching and Learning Budget which is the responsibility of the Deputy-Vice Chancellor (Academic). The Teaching and Learning Development Grant scheme is funded from this budget and administered by Teaching and Learning Support Services.

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2.1.4 Operation of grant schemes

Teaching and Learning Support Services is responsible for the following:

• the overall administration of the schemes (including the application and reporting processes), and
• contributing to faculty-based support processes in terms of guidance on pedagogical issues, scoping of projects, and dissemination of project outcomes.

The call for applications for Teaching and Learning Development Grants is normally made in the middle of each year for projects commencing in the following year.

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2.1.5 Faculty ownership and commitment

Teaching and Learning Development Grant projects must be underscored by faculty / divisional and school / departmental commitment to the project by way of operationalising, mainstreaming and sustaining the project beyond its funding period and immediate site of implementation.

Chairs of faculty teaching and learning committees are responsible for the following:

• Implementing and coordinating faculty-based quality assurance processes for the submission of grant applications and final project reports. Final project reports must be submitted through the chair of the respective faculty teaching and learning committee for consideration one month in advance of the University's reporting deadline.
• Working in collaboration with Teaching and Learning Support Services to implement support strategies for those considering applications and disseminating project outcomes within schools / faculties and the wider University community.

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2.1.6 Selection and approval process

The Vice-Chancellor approves funding for Teaching and Learning Development Grant projects based on the recommendations from University Teaching and Learning Committee. This approval is informed by the recommendations of the Grants selection panel.

Selection Panel for Teaching and Learning Development Grants

The Selection Panel for Teaching and Learning Development Grants reviews applications for the Grant scheme. The Selection Panel comprises:

• Chair, University Teaching and Learning Committee or nominee (Chair)
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Technology Information and Learning Support)
• A member of the Learning Experiences and Curriculum Working Party
• An Assistant Dean (Teaching and Learning) or nominee of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
• An external member
• A student representative
• Service Manager - Learning and Teaching Advancement (Secretary)

University Teaching and Learning Committee approves selection panel membership based on the recommendations of the Learning Experiences and Curriculum Working Party. The selection panel may call upon coopted expertise where necessary (to be reviewed annually).

Criteria for allocation of grants

Selection of successful applications is based on the following criteria:

• alignment with one or more of the learning and teaching priority areas
• the capacity to be operationalised, mainstreamed, sustained and applied beyond the funding period and immediate site of implementation
• clearly defined objectives that are aligned to student learning outcomes*
• potential for a demonstrably positive impact on student learning outcomes*
• demonstration of school and/or faculty / divisional ownership and commitment to achieving the project's objectives and operationalising, mainstreaming, sustaining and applying the project beyond the funding period and immediate site of implementation
• a clear implementation plan
• relationship with other work / research in the area and demonstration that the project does not replicate existing resource materials
• consultation in preparing the application within the faculty and relevant support services
• cost effectiveness and value for money shown by a transparent and accurate budget and rationale on which the costing estimates and roles and responsibilities are based.

QUT's policy on graduate capabilities ( C/1.4 ) is a key reference source for preparing Grant applications.

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2.1.7 Communication of grant outcomes

In alignment with the principles of the scholarship of teaching, the sharing of resources and materials developed under the auspices of Teaching and Learning Development Grant projects is encouraged both within and outside QUT. A condition of receiving a Teaching and Learning Development Grant is that any resource or specific learning output / product developed through a project be made available under a Creative Commons Licence. The Creative Commons approach allows for the free use, redistribution, and modification of copyright material, with proper attribution, subject to certain optional restrictions.

In the case of commercialisation of materials arising from Grant projects, project leaders must consult with the Office of Commercial Services prior to entering into any agreement with a third party.

Ownership of materials developed under the grant is determined in accordance with QUT's intellectual property policy ( D/3.1 ) QUT's copyright policy is at F/5.1 .

Further guidance on copyright and Creative Commons licences is available from the University Copyright Officer ( qut.copyright@qut.edu.au ).

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Modification History

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