HEFCE Elearning Innovation Fund

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HEFCE E-learning Innovation Fund

• A Briefing
• Dr Stuart D Lee
• 21/10/05

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Outline

• Where did this come from?
• What do we know about the funding guidelines?
• What has been done so far?
• What is the e-learning innovation fund?
• Who decides and by when?
• What can I bid for?

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Source of the funding HEFCE

• HEFCE E-learning Strategy
• residual funding from the e-University project
• residual capital grant to support e-learning
  in the sector
• Oxford received 445,080
• One-off windfall grant but more to come?

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Funding Guidelines

• Capital grant but some can be spent on staff
  costs and development
• to develop e-learning equipment, software, and
  course development costs (with a demonstrable
  benefit)
• Aim to spend in 05/06 but can be earmarked for
  06/07 (work needs to begin in 05/06)
• Two key points - embed e-learning sustainable
  e-learning - this will be assessed

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What has happened so far?

• Received notification in Trinity Term
• Discussed at ICTC, EPSC, with divisional
  representatives (organised by Mike Sibly)
• Conclusions1) Majority of funds should be made
  available to divisions and departments in a
  co-ordinated manner (hence the e-learning
  innovation fund)2) Some money reserved for
  central capital purchases3) To embedding and
  sustainability add widespread impact

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What has happened so far? (cont.)

• Central purchases61,000 e-learning training
  facility/showcase45,000 Tutorial Reporting
  System (Senior Tutors)50,000 video/audio
  streaming, and desktop video-conferencing
• Leaves c. 290,00020,000 to go to assisting
  departments with WebLearn270,000 to go to
  e-learning innovation fund

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E-learning Innovation Fund

• Common approach by most Universities
• Releasing funds via a bidding process to
  departments/divisions to match stated aims of
  funding
• Deadline for applications - 9th December
• Notification - 20th December
• Project start - Hilary/Trinity Term
• Dissemination exercise - Trinity Term 2006

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E-learning Innovation Fund

• Applications will be selected by a panel
  (nominated divisional representatives, plus staff
  from OUCS, OULS, IAUL, etc)
• Looking for projects from a department, from
  departments, from a division, or divisions, that
  will embed, are sustainable, and have a
  widespread impact
• No minimum, no maximum funding but seeking a
  spread across divisions

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What can you bid for?

• It is envisaged that projects will be hosted
  within the bidding department or division, but
  centralised help and advice can be drawn upon and
  is strongly encouraged. We welcome applications
  that are across departments, and/or
  cross-divisional. The selection panel will also
  attempt to bring together similar bids.
• Examples - development or purchase of a system
  to support a particular teaching function,
  facilitating a new innovative area that
  introduces IT teaching, etc
• Come forward with ideas and suggestions!

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Central support

• Academic Computing Development Team- advice on
  ideas- help with writing the bid- free
  development work as part of its core service
• Network Systems Management Service (NSMS)-
  hosting servers/services- some development-
  paid for work- http//www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/nsms/
• Technology Assisted Lifelong Learning (TALL)-
  focus on distance learning students- paid for
  development work

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Further details

• http//www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/acdt/hefce/
• acdt_at_oucs.ox.ac.uk
• Your divisional representativeDr Vivien Sieber
  (Medical Sciences)Dr Dave Waters (Maths and
  Physical Sciences)Mr Giuseppe Mazzarino (Social
  Sciences)Dr Gary Lock (Life and Environmental
  Sciences)Dr Emma Smith (Humanities)Dr Tristram
  Wyatt (Continuing Education)