Introduction to SELF
CAPOD continues to support the University's commitment to the enhancement of learning and teaching through the Strategic Enhancement of Learning Fund (SELF). This focuses on supporting initiatives that link specifically to any of the Quality Assurance Agency (Scotland)'s Enhancement Themes:
- Developing and Supporting the Curriculum (summer 2011 to summer 2014)
- Graduates for the 21st Century: Integrating the Enhancement Themes (2008-09, 2009-10)
- Research-Teaching Linkages / The First Year (2006-07 through to 2008-09)
- Integrative Assessment (balance of formative and summative modes) / The First Year (2005-06)
- Flexible Delivery / Employability (2004-05)
- Responding to Student Needs / Assessment (2003-04)
There is a total of £10,000 to be disbursed by a competitive process. Projects that engage with Developing and Supporting the Curriculum, Graduates for the 21st Century, Research-Teaching Linkages and The First Year themes are particularly welcome, but applications will be considered for any project that seeks to build upon any one of the themes (eg Integrative Assessment, Employability, Flexible Delivery, etc.). The SELF is complementary to CAPOD's Fund for Innovations in Learning Teaching and Assessment (FILTA).
Like the FILTA awards, the main purpose of the fund is to encourage the development of new patterns of learning and teaching, especially where the innovation or development requires pump-priming finance that cannot be provided from normal departmental resources. However, the expectation is that successful initiatives will be maintained and supported within the School without recourse to further SELF funding.
Dissemination of Project Outcomes
Evaluation of effectiveness and dissemination of good practice arising from the funded projects are an integral part of the SELF scheme. On acceptance, members of staff who receive an award will be required to furfill the 4 Project Outcomes stipulated below:
- To publish the outcomes of their project in some way, for example:
- Article in a relevant discipline journal
- Article in the e-journal Practice and Evidence of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (or similar)
- Case study on the BeSoTLed website (this option might be particularly useful for initiatives that did not work out as planned)
- Case study for one of the Higher Education Academy Subject Centres (many will pay for case studies, eg Bioscience, Classics, English, Physical Sciences)
- Presentation or poster at an Enhancement Themes conference or workshop
- Presentation or poster at a Higher Education Academy or Subject Centre conference or workshop
- Presentation or poster at a pedagogical conference (eg AMEE, GIREP,TOEBI)
This list is not meant to be exhaustive. The main aim is to ensure that the outcomes of the project are disseminated beyond the institution, by whatever means the project team finds appropriate.
- To produce a printed and laminated A2 poster no later than one year after receiving the award; £10.50 will be allocated to your award to have this done by the Print & Design unit. (This may be a copy of a poster produced as part of the first requirement.) The poster will be used by CAPOD to publicise the outcomes of the project within the University (eg at TLA Open Fora).
- To submit a short report (~1 pages A4) one year after receiving their award. This will outline briefly how the funds were spent (noting in particular any deviations from what was originally proposed), what impact the initiative has had and whether it will continue and how the outcomes have been (or will be) published.
- Award recipients may also be asked to give a presentation on the project at a CAPOD dissemination event or TLA Open Forum.