Learning and Teaching Grants Scheme (LTGS) - Academic Policy

Content

Learning and Teaching Grants Scheme (LTGS) - Academic Policy

Responsible officer: Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Designated officer: Manager, Office of Learning and Teaching
Approval authority: Academic Board
Approval: 27 July 2010
Last amended: Nil
Effective starting date: 27 July 2010
Policy number: AB26
Related policies:

• Intellectual Property (IP) - Governing Policy

Related Procedures:

• Open Learning and Teaching Grant Program Procedures
• Commissioned Learning and Teaching Grant Program Procedures
• ALTC Seed Funding Program Procedures
• ALTC Collaboration Funding Program Procedures
• ALTC Grants Redevelopment Funding Program Procedures

Due date for next review: 27 July 2015

This policy must be read in conjunction with the relevant Learning and Teaching Grant Scheme (LTGS) program procedures.

Part A: Preliminary

1. Purpose of policy

This policy establishes the roles and responsibilities of University staff in applying for, managing and completing grants projects funded under the internal LTGS.

2. Application of policy

This policy applies to all staff of the University eligible to apply for an internal Learning and Teaching Grant.

3. Background

The University of the Sunshine Coast values and supports outstanding teaching. The LTGS provides internal funding to staff to undertake scholarly work related to learning and teaching. The five programs available through the LTGS provide funding for different purposes, all with the ultimate goal of enhancing student learning and contributing to the higher education sector.

4. Definitions

In this policy the following definitions apply:

“Cost Centre” means the non-Faculty support area within the University in which the Project Leader works.

“Disseminate” means the strategic and engaged communication of knowledge or findings with a view to maximising opportunities for widespread and effective knowledge sharing.

“Faculty Learning and Teaching Coordinator” means the staff member appointed to this role within each Faculty. For applications from a non-Faculty Cost Centre, involvement from a Faculty Learning and Teaching Coordinator is not required.

“Head of School” means the Head of School or equivalent within a Faculty, or the line Manager within a Cost Centre.

“Project Leader” means the person responsible for the project. Project Leaders provide the intellectual leadership for the project and are the point of contact between the OLT and the project on matters of substance in the project.

“Project Team Member” means a person actively engaged in the ongoing work on the project. Project Team Members contribute directly to the success of the project through the contribution of time and intellectual resources to the project. Project Team Members may be people from organisations other than a University who have an interest in and can make a contribution to the project.

Part B: Policy

5. Purpose of the scheme

The purpose of the Learning and Teaching Grants Scheme (LTGS) is to provide staff with an opportunity to:

• participate in the scholarship of teaching
• develop and disseminate significant innovations in learning and teaching
• develop their capacity to compete in national schemes such as ALTC Grants, Fellowships and Awards.

6. Types of grants

The University offers five learning and teaching grant programs. The maximum funding amount per type of grant is specified in a schedule which is reviewed annually.

6.1 Open Learning and Teaching Grants Program (OLTGP)

Open Learning and Teaching Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that relate directly to the purposes of the LTGS and go well beyond normal learning and teaching development and evaluation activities. Grants will be offered in discrete funding rounds for projects identified and proposed by teams or individuals, and may vary at the discretion of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

6.2 Commissioned Learning and Teaching Grants Program (CLTGP)

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor may commission learning and teaching projects to address identified needs. Individuals may be invited to apply or a general call may be issued for applications. The funding available for Commissioned Grants may vary at the discretion of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

6.3 Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Seed Funding Program (SFP)

Staff may apply to receive seed funding to support them in developing applications for ALTC grants, awards and fellowships. Seed funding may be used for salary and non-salary costs.

6.4 Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Collaboration Funding Program (CFP)

The Collaboration Funding Program provides, on a competitive basis, partial funding for staff to attend, report back on and engage with events hosted by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, and other events likely to result in increased engagement with the Australian Learning and Teaching Council.

The staff member’s cost centre is generally required to match the level of funding provided and will be responsible for monitoring recipients’ progress towards achieving their chosen outcomes.

6.5 Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Grants Redevelopment Funding Program (GRFP)

Applicants to the ALTC Grants Scheme who are favourably rated but do not receive ALTC funding will have access to the Grants Redevelopment Funding Program. This program supports the development of the applicant’s project idea, particularly by responding to feedback provided through the ALTC assessment process. The funding available is linked to the ranking given by the ALTC and the activities specified in the Grants Redevelopment Funding application.

7. Target groups

7.1 The primary purpose of the LTGS is to enhance student learning.

7.2 The particular target groups are:

(a) Open Grants Program and Commissioned Grants Program: target all staff

(b) Australian Learning and Teaching Council Seed Funding Program: targets staff with a well-formed plan to submit an application to the ALTC within two years of applying for LTGS funding

(d) Australian Learning and Teaching Council Collaboration Funding Program: targets staff who wish to attend an ALTC or other event for the purposes of fostering collaboration and disseminating ALTC project findings

(e) Australian Learning and Teaching Council Grants Redevelopment Funding Program: open only to staff who have submitted a grant application to the ALTC.

7.3 Early career staff are particularly encouraged to participate in the LTGS.

7.4 The Scheme is usually intended to provide one-off funding that builds towards external funding.

8. Selection criteria

Applications for Learning and Teaching Grants are assessed against specific criteria as follows:

8.1 Open and Commissioned* Learning and Teaching Grant Programs

1. Research focus

• the importance of the identified problem and likely outcomes of the project; and
• alignment with USC institutional priorities.

2. Research design

• a strong theoretical framework;
• a set of strategies that is considered, coherent and appropriate to the outcomes the project is designed to achieve;
• the clarity of the application, including that it is written in plain English; and
• the appropriateness of the budget and budget justification to the project outcomes.

3. Research capacity

• the track record and/or demonstrated potential of the lead investigator and any other team members; and
• the availability of resources and infrastructure to enable project completion.

4. Value/need for the project

• the project and its outcomes are potentially useful;
• the project both utilises and advances existing institutional, national and international knowledge; and
• plans for the dissemination or embedding of the successful strategies and outcomes are integrated within the project design.

Preferencing criteria

Where applications are equally ranked. The following preferencing criteria are used to distinguish between applications:

• The inclusion of early career academics in the project team will be considered favourably by the panel.
• The indication of an effective strategy for progressing the project to an ALTC application or a project funded by another funding source will be considered favourably by the panel.
• For Commissioned Grants, a selection of these criteria will be adapted as appropriate and made available when the call for applications is made.

8.2 Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Seed Funding Program (SFP)

1. Suitability of proposal for ALTC funding (assessed by working draft)
2. Extent of preparation already undertaken (assessed by interactions with the OLT, and/or any additional comments provided on the application form)
3. Appropriateness of the proposed expenditure (assessed by completion of Item 3 of the Application Form).

8.3 Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Collaborative Funding Program (CFP)

1. 1. Likelihood of collaboration leading to either an ALTC funding application and/or dissemination of ALTC project outcomes to USC staff
2. 2. Extent to which attendance at the proposed event is likely to benefit the applicant in terms of providing opportunities for collaboration
3. 3. Quality of the planned method of dissemination to USC staff.

8.4 Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Grants Redevelopment Funding Program (GRFP)

1. 1. Ranking provided by the ALTC assessment process
2. 2. Appropriateness of the proposed expenditure to address the assessment feedback.

9. Eligibility

Staff with continuing appointments and staff who have a fixed-term appointment to the University for at least the duration of the proposed grant, usually 2 years, are eligible to apply for LTGS grants. Applications from individuals or teams are submitted by the intended Project Leader.

10. Opportunities and support

10.1 The Office of Learning and Teaching (OLT) provides timely information about Learning and Teaching Grants Scheme opportunities to support staff in forward planning for grant applications.

10.2 The OLT provides advice and support to applicants and grant recipients at all stages.

10.4 The University usually offers 3 rounds of OLTGP grants each year and calls for CLTGP grants will be made at the discretion of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

10.5 ALTC Seed Funding, Collaboration Funding and Grants Redevelopment Funding may be granted at anytime.

11. Applications

11.1 The Grants and Awards Officer, OLT, is the designated institutional contact for all LTGS grant applications.

11.2 Applications must undergo peer review before they are submitted to the OLT.

11.3 In exceptional circumstances, the Chair of the LTGS Assessment Panel may grant an extension to the internal submission date for OLTGP and CLTGP grants, providing that all of the following conditions are met:

(a) the request is made at an appropriate time in advance, except for compassionate reasons, for which this requirement can be waived

(b) the request is supported by the Head of School

(c) the basis of the request is substantial.

12. Assessment of applications

12.1 Applications for OLTGP grants will be assessed by an LTGS Assessment Panel.

12.2 Applications for CLTGP grants may be approved directly by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or assessed by the LTGS Assessment Panel, at the discretion of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

12.3 The LTGS Assessment Panel is comprised of the following members:

• the Chair of the Learning and Teaching Committee, or nominee (Panel Chair)
• a nominee of the Executive Dean of each Faculty
• the Manager, Office of Learning and Teaching.

12.4 The Panel membership is confirmed in February and remains in place for a calendar year unless changes are required.

12.5The Grants and Awards Officer provides committee support to the panel.

12.6 The Assessment Panel will assess applications against the selection criteria for the relevant LTGS grants program as set out in section 8.1 of this policy.

12.7 The LTGS Assessment Panel will make recommendations to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, who has the final authority to approve LTGS grant applications.

13. Notification

13.1 The LTGS Assessment Panel will provide verbal and written feedback to applicants for OLTGP and CLTGP grants when applications are assessed by the LTGS Assessment Panel.

13.2 The OLT will provide verbal and written feedback to applicants for ALTC Seed Funding, Collaboration Funding and Grants Redevelopment Funding.

13.3 The OLT will notify applicants of the outcomes of their applications in writing.

13.4 The OLT will provide Faculty Learning and Teaching Committees and the Learning and Teaching Committee with a copy of the project summary of successful grant applications for noting at the next meeting.

14. Grant Conditions

14.1 Successful applicants must agree to adhere to all specific grant conditions.

14.2 Grant conditions may vary for CLTGP grants. These conditions will be specified in the application process and/or negotiated with the Project Leader.

14.3 The approved funding level must not be exceeded. Any unused funds will be returned to the appropriate LTGS funding pool.

14.4 Requests for variations must be made following the requirements for project variations as set out in the relevant procedures.

15. Responsibilities

15.1 The OLT is responsible for the management and administration of all processes associated with:

• annual scheduling of submission dates
• calling for applications
• processing applications
• convening LTGS Assessment Panels
• forwarding correspondence between the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and the LTGS Assessment Panel
• notifying relevant parties of grant application outcomes
• arranging transfer of funds
• sending timely reminders to Project Leaders regarding progress and final reports
• finalising project accounts
• filing project documentation
• providing the Deputy Vice-Chancellor with the data that will form the basis of the annual report on learning and teaching grant activity to Academic Board.

15.2 Project Leaders are responsible for:

• developing and submitting grant applications
• arranging a peer review of the application
• organising for the project application to receive approval from the relevant individuals before submission
• ensuring that the project keeps on track and is completed on time
• requesting activity statements from Finance and ensuring that the project budget is adhered to
• completing and submitting progress and final reports
• ensuring that a project evaluation is carried out as specified in the project proposal
• ensuring that the dissemination strategy specified in the project outcomes is followed during the project and after its completion.

15.3 The Faculty and Faculty Finance Officers will be responsible for supporting the Project Leader to undertake the duties listed in 15.2

15.4 Key stakeholders such as the Learning and Teaching Committee, Faculty Learning and Teaching coordinators, Faculty Learning and Teaching committees and the Manager, Office of Learning and Teaching will be responsible for receiving project updates and outcomes. These stakeholders will also ensure that this information is noted and disseminated to fulfil any requirements set out in the accompanying procedures.

15.5 The Deputy Vice-Chancellor is responsible for:

• considering the LTGS Assessment Panel’s recommendations regarding projects to be funded under the Commissioned and Open Learning and Teaching Grants programs
• determining who will be awarded funding under the Commissioned Grants program (if the DVC deems the establishment of an LTGS Assessment Panel to be unnecessary)
• providing the Academic Board with an annual summary of the projects funded under the LTGS
• determining focus areas for CLTGP grants.

15.6 Members of Assessment LTGS Assessment Panels are responsible for:

• being familiar with the policies and procedures which govern the LTGS
• assessing applications against the relevant selection criteria
• developing feedback to applicants that highlights applications strengths and any areas in need of further development
• reviewing progress and final reports and providing the Project Leader with supportive and constructive feedback.

15.7 Financial Services is responsible for:

• transferring project money into the relevant accounts
• providing access to project accounts for relevant people
• Producing regular reports and activity statements.

END

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