Partnerships in Learning and Teaching (PLanT) Projects Funding Scheme
Every year funding of up to £500 is available for a small number of Partnerships in Learning and Teaching (PLanT) projects.
PLanT projects involve staff and students working as partners to identify problems, find solutions, and enhance teaching and learning at the University. Projects should demonstrate a clear impact on the student experience.
To find out more about the PLanT scheme and how to apply, please join our webinar on:
Applying for Partnerships in Learning and Teaching (PLanT) project funding which will take place on Thursday 20 October 2022 from 12:30-13:30.
In this session, we will discuss the application process and criteria in more detail. There will also be an opportunity to hear from previous funding recipients, who will share their tips for what makes a successful project and application.
To book a place, please use the following link
:https://uorlearn.sabacloud.com/Saba/Web_spf/EU2PRD0149/common/ledetail/cours000000000080460 (if you are a member of staff) or email cqsd-tandl@reading.ac.uk (if you are a student).
Scheme Criteria
All proposals must:
- Demonstrate how students will work in partnership with staff on the design and delivery of the project and, wherever possible, on the evaluation of the project and the dissemination of its outcomes.*
- Identify how the project will enhance existing practices/develop new practices in the identified area of teaching and learning, and the expected impact on the student learning experience;
- Identify how evaluation is embedded within the project design, how the project team will reflect on the project's success and how project outcomes will be disseminated**;
- Demonstrate how the project aligns with local strategic School/Department priorities (this can apply to multiple Schools/Departments as appropriate) and with the University Strategic Plan 2020-2026**.
- Identify plans for project-related activities to continue beyond the project and/or for project outcomes to be realised in a sustainable way.
* Please refer to the section below on Partnership.
** Please refer to the section below on Dissemination.
*** When considering alignment with the University Strategic Plan 2020-2026***, applicants may wish to focus on the four strategic principles of Community (including equality, diversity and inclusion), Excellence, Sustainability (including environmental sustainability) and an Engaged University.
Decolonising the curriculum – additional funding for 2022/23
Additional funding from the Diversity & Inclusion budget will be allocated during the 2022/23 financial year to fund up to five additional PLanT projects with a specific focus on decolonising the curriculum. Acknowledging that we are all at different points on our decolonising journey, eligible projects could involve:
- an initial listening exercise with students about how teaching content and teaching methods in your discipline could be decolonised and which initial steps could be taken;
- an evaluation of the changes you have made to a module to decolonise content/methods and seeking student views via a focus group;
- collaboratively designing and creating with student partners a decolonised approach to assessment methods;
- an evaluation on using the University of Reading Decolonising the Curriculum materials to inform your T&L practice and the realised benefits for students.
The application process and scheme criteria will be as specified above/below, except that instead of demonstrating how the project aligns with local School/Department priorities and with the University Strategic Plan (criterion 4), applicants will need to demonstrate how the project aligns specifically with the University’s strategic focus on equality, diversity and inclusion.
Additional Guidance:
PLanT projects can be of any duration within an academic year but they must be completed (and the associated funding spent) by 31st July.
Applications should clearly set out what projects will involve, including any physical outputs that will be created.
Proposals that involve collaboration across Departments/Schools/Services are particularly welcome. Applicants should ensure that any other Schools/Departments/Services referred to in their application, who will be involved in project implementation, have been consulted as appropriate prior to submitting an application.
If the proposed project is building on a previous T&L funded project, the application should refer back to this project as appropriate.
Applicants are strongly advised to adhere to the maximum word limit (700 words total for the project description section). The Selection Panel will not take into account any words exceeding this limit. Hyperlinks and video clips will not be taken into consideration by the Panel and should therefore be avoided. The judicious use of images, diagrams and tables is permitted (any text should be included in the word count).
Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their application with a member of the CQSD team prior to submitting it. Please contact cqsd-tandl@reading.ac.uk.
Partnership:
PLanT projects should be underpinned by the Principles of Partnership. More information for staff on working in partnership with students is available in the Partnership at the University of Reading guide. Please note that data collection involving students is not sufficient to demonstrate student engagement with the project as a whole. Applicants should consider how a partnership approach will be enacted through the project as a whole, with reference to the following stages of engagement:
- partnership (students play a lead role in shaping the activities and outputs of the project, which is undertaken in collaboration with staff)
- participation (students play an active role in shaping project activities)
- involvement (students play an active role in a particular activity led by staff)
- consultation (students provide feedback to inform the project)
Dissemination:
Dissemination of project outcomes is now a prerequisite for applying for future TLDF funding. Successful applicants are therefore required to disseminate progress and/or outcomes of their project. In the first instance, please submit an entry for the T&L Exchange.
Some examples of PLanT project reports published on the T&L Exchange are available here:
Embedding Employability Through Collaborative Curriculum Design.
Blended Learning - Exploring the experience of disabled Law students
A poster presentation presented at an international conference by a 2021/22 PLanT project team is available here:
A video created about another 2018/19 PLanT project is available here:
Re-think Assessment: Revamping the PG Cert SENCo assessment - Practices that Work.
If you would like to discuss further opportunities for dissemination, such as a T&L event, please contact CQSD - see below for details.
Application Process:
Application dates:
Applications can be submitted from: This scheme is currently closed
Closing date for applications: This scheme is currently closed
Applicants will normally receive the Selection Panel's decision and feedback (usually via email) within four working weeks of the closing date.
The application form will be here when the scheme re-opensThe application form is in a Word format and can be accessed either on campus or off campus using VPN.
If you experience any difficulties completing the application form please contact Martin Wise m.wise@reading.ac.uk
Applicants must convert the completed application into one pdf file and submit this electronically to Martin Wise (m.wise@reading.ac.uk) by 17:00 on the day of the submission deadline.
The PLanT application can be submitted by students or staff members.
The University is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion through its Teaching & Learning funding and award schemes, and to ensuring that these schemes are accessible to all colleagues. We welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, including ethnic minority, LGBT+, disabled and neurodivergent applicants. We also welcome applications from the wide range of disciplines and areas across the University, including colleagues in professional services roles and those on part-time contracts.
Proposals will be considered by the PLanT Projects Selection Panel and will be selected according to the extent to which they meet the scheme criteria.
The PLanT Projects Selection Panel comprises:
- A Teaching and Learning Dean, who will act as Chair
- A Reading University Teaching Fellow
- A representative from the Academic Development and Enhancement team in CQSD
- A representative from the Technology Enhanced Learning team in CQSD
- The RUSU Education Officer
Please note that a limited number of awards are made each year, so applicants should bear in mind that this is a competitive process.
Sample applications:
Applicants may wish to refer to successful applications from previous years. Please note that the structure of the application form was revised for the 2020/21 academic year, although the scheme criteria were unchanged.
Example 1:
Example 2:
Example 3:
Using an electronic portfolio platform for professional development of pharmacy
Example 4:
Example 5:
iApply - an iSpy Inspired Interactive Careers Passport and Mobile App for Specific Careers
Funding Requirements and Guidance
The purpose of the guidance below is to support colleagues who are planning to submit an application for, or have already been allocated, a TLDF award with the overall planning and managing of a TLDF budget.
Finance guidance for TLDF applications updated Aug2022
Some general notes are below :
- Project proposals must provide a budget outline with approximate costs.
- Awarded funding can be used for a range of purchases including equipment, materials, travel expenses, as payment for time, or refreshments for focus groups.
- All project-related expenditure must be complete by 31st July.
- Please note that gift vouchers or Campus Card top-ups cannot be used as an incentive to encourage student attendance at focus groups or as a payment for the completion of work/tasks. Payments via gift vouchers or Campus Card could be considered a 'benefit in kind' and therefore be subject to tax. Applicants should bear this guidance in mind when drafting their proposed budget.
- Payments to students should be completed using the Campus Jobs Portal:- http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/humanresources/campusjobs/
- For guidance on completing these payments please contact Campus Jobs on 0118 378 4499 or campusjobs@reading.ac.uk
***This scheme counts towards the School of Literature and Language's Professional Track***
Contact us