Transcript Funding options for 2014

Ako Aotearoa Funding Workshops: 2014
Funding change projects in the tertiary education sector
Hosted by Ako Aotearoa’s Regional Hubs
Plan
•
Overview of our funding
•
Examples
•
Developing an application
•
Working with us and support available
•
Good Practice Publication Grants
•
Opportunity for one-on-one discussions
• Evaluation
May 2014
Funding overview
Ako Aotearoa funds change projects
• i.e. we fund evidence-based change projects with
a high potential to benefit learners
•
we do not fund research projects per se, although every
project will have a strong research element in it.
May 2014
Funding overview
There is one overarching objective for our funding:
• Enhanced educational outcomes for learners.
Our secondary objectives are that the work:
• Contributes to a coherent knowledge base
• Promotes collaboration
• Builds research capability and capacity.
May 2014
Overarching principles of funding
1. Co-funding model – we fund up to 50% of the total value
of the project
2. The work must be clearly beyond Business as Usual
3. There is an organisational commitment to act on findings
4. Project teams commit to active dissemination
5. All projects will be involved in our Impact Evaluation
Process
May 2014
What we fund
We look to support projects that:
• focus on learner outcomes
• seek to achieve strategic organisational change
for the benefit of learners
• are evidence-based
• are of high quality
• provide value for money
• build capability and capacity
May 2014
What we don’t fund
We do not support projects that:
• focus on business-as-usual activities
• do not have a clear demonstration of
organisational commitment
• are inconsistent with Ako Aotearoa’s strategic
goals, values or principles (e.g. must be focussed
on post-compulsory education)
May 2014
Funding options for 2014
• At least four projects up to $300k across 2-3 years
• As a guide, one project will be focused on Māori
learners, one focused on Pacific learners, and two will be
open in focus
• A two stage process of application
• Co-funding model
• Projects normally up to $20k for implementation/
developmental projects 6-12 months in duration
• No closing dates
• Co-funding model
Also GPPG scheme – discussed at the end of this presentation
May 2014
Planning your project
• Start with the end in mind – what legacy will your
project leave?
• Think about the full life-cycle of the project
• Initiation – defining problem and looking for the
solution
• Implementation – conducting the project
• Institutionalisation – adopting and embedding
the work in ways that achieve sustainable
enhancement of practice.
May 2014
Setting yourself up for success - initiation
• Is this an issue of broad significance?
• Does my project involve the key people, with both
project relevant skills and influence?
• What would success look like?
May 2014
Setting yourself up for success – “the elevator
pitch”
Is your proposal a request for funding to do some
work?
or
Is it an exciting, irresistible offer about improving sector
performance?
Does your project have a vision?
May 2014
Exemplar project: Pasifika learners and success
in tertiary education
Project: Investigated good organisational practice
that supports Pacific learners to succeed in tertiary
education
http://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/pasifika-learners-success
Vision: To gather stories of
success to inform theory and
practice; to shift attention from
deficit explanations of Pacific
student achievement to a focus
on exemplars of success
May 2014
Continued Pasifika
learners and success in
tertiary education
What’s changed?
• Reach: Political, policy and tertiary sector interest
• Practitioners: Informing supervision, lecturers, tutors,
learning asdvisors, pastoral care and more
• Learners: ↑ success (A’s, honors)
• Project team: Equity & diversity award, ↑ visibiltiy, ↑
morale
Key features
• Appreciative inquiry and
strengths-based approaches
• Developing a PD workshop
May 2014
Exemplar project: Graduate outcomes:
Are they driving learning? And who
knows about them?
Project: Explored current policy and practice
regarding graduate outcomes in higher education
institutions in New Zealand
http://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/graduate-outcomes
Vision: To instigate change by
encouraging HE institutions to
engage deeply with the graduate
outcomes agenda
May 2014
Continued Graduate
outcomes…
What’s changed?
• Reach: Early signs of a greater willingness to
engage in GO agenda
• Practitioner: signs of greater emphasis on GO
policy, procedural enablers, workshops
• Learners: Signs of better awareness of GA for
their programme
• Project team: ↑ visibiltiy, benefits of
collaborative work
Key features
• A range of practical
resources developed
• Highly collaborative team
May 2014
Exemplar project: Success in Academia?
The experiences of early career
academics in New Zealand
Project: Examined the experiences of early career
academics in New Zealand
http://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/early-career-academics
Vision: To identify factors for best supporting
early career academics to nurture their
aspirations, and their own and their students’
success
May 2014
Continued Success
in Academia? …
What’s changed?
• Reach: High uptake of outputs
• Practitioner: “Success” factors apart of induction programmes
at VUW & UoC
• Learners: Sustainable community of peers,
appear to be ready earlier for voluntary work
• Project team: Positive impact on project
leaders reputation
Key features
• A range of practical resources
developed
• High demand for outputs
May 2014
Exemplar project: RHPF, central hub
Cracking the Reading Code: An AudioVisual Resource for Learners and Teachers
Clare Hazledine and Mary Silvester
http://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/ako-hub/ako-aotearoa-central-hub/cracking-reading-code
July 2013
Continued
Cracking the Reading Code
• Outputs: two DVDs and a tutor resource booklet which
show examples of working with students to improve
their academic reading skills.
• All material on the Whitireia intranet; accessible,
widely used and endorsed by students, teachers and
student support staff.
• 1708 page views and 680 downloads of the material
from the Ako Aotearoa website after one year.
July 2013
Exemplar project: RHPF, central hub
A Māori Perspective for Embedding
Literacy and Numeracy within Adult
Education Programmes
Project: This stunningly illustrated resource gives guidelines and
practical suggestions on how to use tikanga Māori to embed
literacy and numeracy within courses designed for Māori learners.
Vision: to have Māori learners engage with their own
culture while increasing their literacy and numeracy skills.
http://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/ako-hub/ako-aotearoa-centralhub/resources/pages/maori-perspective-embedding-literacyand-numeracy-within-adult-education-progra
May 2014
What’s changed?
• Reach: 294 page views, 181 downloads after
5 months
• Pracitce and project team: The project leader
is preparing to run Ako Aotearoa professional
development workshops based on this project
Key features
• The work well endorsed by people who
have attended workshops run by
Huhana
• Good suggestions for resources and
methods for teachers
May 2014
Exemplar project: RHPF, northern hub
Goalposts – An introduction to Adult
Learning theory for new tertiary teachers
• Project: Quick overview of key
principles and theories of adult
learning
• Vision was to help new teachers
design effective learning
activities underpinned by theory
http://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/ako-hub/akoaotearoa-northernhub/resources/pages/goalposts-professionaldevelopment-resource-new-tertiary-teacherstheir-firstJuly 2013
Goalposts – An introduction
to Adult Learning theory for new
tertiary teachers
Continued
What’s changed?
• Offer new ideas and strategies to other staff members
• Use more motivational techniques for effective
learning
• More student focussed
Key features
• Easy to follow 1-page summaries
of most recent and influential ideas
July 2013
Exemplar project: RHPF, northern hub
A professional development/support
model for all teachers
Project: Support beginning tertiary teachers into the habit
of reflective practice
Vision: To enable new teachers to
move from novice to expert
http://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/ako-hub/ako-aotearoa-northernhub/resources/pages/professional-developmentsupport-model-all-teachers
July 2013
Continued A
professional development/
support model for all teachers
What’s changed?
• Student engagement increased
• Teaching practices became more deliberate
• Thought processes behind lesson planning are
evident
Key features
• Resource pack for the professional
development and support model
July 2013
Exemplar project: RHPF, southern hub
Practising Research: Teaching and
Learning Cards
Project: Understanding and conducting
social work research
Vision: To build research capacity and
develop resources applicable to a range
of applied disciplines with a practicebased component
https://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/ako-hub/ako-aotearoasouthern-hub/resources/pages/learning-conductcollaborative-social-work-research-field
July 2013
Continued Practising
Research: Teaching and
Learning Cards
What’s changed?
• Project findings and developed resources included in
teaching
• Learners practical skills in research developed.
Increased confidence
• Project outputs available for download or purchase
through the Ako Aotearoa Shop
Key features:
• Practising Research - Teaching and Learning Cards
• Practising Research - Instruction Cards
July 2013
Exemplar project: RHPF, southern hub
Demystifying addiction through personal
stories
Project: To develop an online Educational Resource for
medical and other health profession students
Vision: To improve the quality of alcohol
and other drug (AOD) addictions
education being provided to health
professionals
https://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/communities/demystifyingaddiction-through-personal-stories-onlineeducational-resource
Rachel Tester
July 2013
Continued Demystifying
addiction through
personal stories
What’s changed?
• Resources successfully used in workshops.
• Post-graduate student feedback shows resources make
them think more deeply about AOD issues
• Project has had ripple effect and an impact on the work
of the wider research group
Key features
• Series of video clips for learning about addiction directly
from people who have experienced it – ordinary people
who developed alcohol and other drug problems and are
now living full, happy and productive lives
July 2013
What do excellent projects have in common?
May 2014
Rubric for Māori focused projects
May 2014
Developing your application
Regardless of the funding scheme, selection panels are
looking for:
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an aspiration for sustainable change
a detailed project plan
a comprehensive dissemination plan
organisational buy-in, contribution and gain
impact beyond those directly involved
capability building
measurement of learner benefits
May 2014
Project outcomes
What are your expected outcomes?
• Are the likely outcomes from your project well
reasoned?
• Be explicit about your logic model for change
How will these outcomes be achieved/measured?
• Is the project designed with change in mind?
• How will you measure/demonstrate change?
May 2014
Invest time in your application
• Communicate clearly
• Write strategically
• Do the basics well
• Share it with others
May 2014
Invest time in your application
For the National Project Fund ….
• Difference between the Expression of Interest (EOI)
and the Full Proposal (FP)
• EOI provides a broad overview, but all the
conceptual thinking is done
• EOI should include a co-funding commitment in
principle that is confirmed in the FP
• FP is a comprehensive account of project
May 2014
Common weaknesses – why panels say “no”
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Can’t understand the application
Application not placed in wider context
Localised impact (BAU)
Proposed interventions not sustainable
Method not well matched to aims/goals
Intended benefit to learners appears negligible
Lack of connection with sector
Budget unreasonable for work
Strong project but poor fit for fund
May 2014
If I am successful in the EOI round of the NPF:
working with us
• If shortlisted
• you will be provided with feedback on your EOI
• Feedback may include recommendations for FP
• If funded
• may include conditions of funding
• enter into contract negotiations
• Partnership model – being more than a funder
• supporter and enabler of change
• connect with you regularly
• case-by-case approach
May 2014
If I get funded: Impact Evaluation Process
• Interested in dissemination activities, outputs and
outcomes after project completion
• Conversations with project teams at 6, 12 and 24
months post project completion. Focusing on:
• outputs (reach)
• impact on practice
• impact on learners
• impact on project teams
• Conversations in context of original project goals
May 2014
Support available
• Feedback on draft applications:
• NPF review service
• Hub managers comment on
RHPFS drafts
• Guide to Change Projects
(Alkema, 2012)
• We are happy to discuss
your ideas
May 2014
Key dates 2014
19 May – EOI formal review process opens
20 June – EOI review process close
11 July – EOIs close
11 August – Applicants notified
10 October – FPs close
10 November – Shortlisted applicants notified
Open selection process – Contact your hub
May 2014
Good Practice Publication Grants Scheme
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Sharing and promoting good teaching and learning practice
across the sector
• Demonstrated good practice not projects
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The grants
• up to $5k for multi-media publication
• up to $3k for written publication
• Up to $10k for organisational GPPGs
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Published in our e-book
May 2014
GPPG Priorities for 2014:
• Good practice that has been shown to benefit Māori
learners, their whānau, hapū, iwi and communities.
• Good practice that has been shown to benefit Pacific
Learners and their communities.
• Good practice that has been shown to benefit
youngers learners in tertiary education.
• This year the scheme is open with no closing dates.
• http://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/good-practice-publicationgrants
May 2014
More information – project funding
• NPF:
• http://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/national-project-fund
• [email protected]
• RHPF and GPPG:
• http://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/regional-hub-projectfunding
• [email protected] (northern)
• [email protected] (central)
• [email protected] (southern)
• [email protected]
May 2014