The Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement Funding in Higher Education continues to present higher education institutions nationally with opportunities to enhance Teaching, Learning and Assessment for both students and staff. This funding, which is now multi-annual in nature, is administered by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (NFETLHE) in partnership with the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
In 2023, MTU was allocated a further €410,000 for the 2023-24 academic year, i.e. SATLE 2023-24, to drive teaching and learning innovation and enhancement.
Initiatives supported through SATLE 2023/24 funding will continue to enable innovations in at least one of three core areas of focus:
- Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
- Digital Transformation in the Tertiary Sector
- Best Practice in Upholding and Cultivating Academic Integrity.
At the request of Professor Maggie Cusack (President of MTU), Ms Marese Bermingham (Head of TLU - Teaching and Learning Unit, AnSEO – The Student Engagement Office and Arts Office), continues as the Institutional Lead for SATLE 2023/24 and working with colleagues across all campuses, will adopt a whole-of-institution approach across a range of initiatives outlined below.
MTU’s approach for SATLE 2023/24 will build on the work of SATLE 2019, SATLE 2020 and SATLE 2022-23 across five main areas:
1. Disciplinary Excellence in Learning Teaching and Assessment (DELTA) [Now closed for applications]
The Disciplinary Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Assessment (DELTA) Award is presented by NFETLHE to discipline groups who can demonstrate a record of excellence in teaching and learning enhancement and who commit to an ongoing, clearly articulated, shared process of continued enhancement.
- This institution wide initiative will, following an internal competitive application process, provide funding to support 3 MTU discipline specific teams to embark on their DELTA application process.
- To enable engagement with the application process, the funding provided will support a 4-hour staff buyout per team for the 2024-25 academic year with their commitment to DELTA application process completion before 25th August 2025.
- Teams may utilise their allocated hours in whichever manner works best for them.
- Watch: DELTA Funding Information Session 2024 - Recording
- View: DELTA Funding Information Session 2024 - Presentation
- For further information on the DELTA Award, go to the National Forum website
2. Reimagining Assessment and Feedback Together 3 (RAFT 3) [Now closed for applications]
- This strategic institution wide CPD programme will focus on supporting a cohort of staff in their assessment practices to proactively cultivate academic integrity through enhanced assessment design, to address generative artificial intelligence issues in higher education and to disseminate emerging good practices for wider application.
- The programme will run in two phases, with those staff engaged receiving 1 hour timetable alleviation:
- Phase 1 running across Semester 1 (2024/25)
- Phase 2 running across Semester 2 (2024/25)
- Watch RAFT Funding Information Session 2024 - Recording
- View RAFT Funding Information Session 2024 - Presentation
3. Learning Enhancement Projects (LEPs) (€5,000 – €35,000 per project)
- This call was issued in Semester 2 (2023/24) following an information session, with submissions reviewed/confirmed by end of Semester 2. Successful projects are to be undertaken during the 2024/25 academic year.
- The project scope and type will be determined by applicants, some being individual or team led, involving cross campus and external collaborations with funding covering, but not limited to, resource development, external expert engagement, staff time buyout and dissemination, etc.
4. Reusable Learning Resources Project [Coming Soon]
This project will result in the development of a series of Reusable Learning Resources and will be led by colleagues in the Department of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL), MTU Cork Campuses and the E-learning Development and Support Unit (EDSU), MTU Kerry campuses.
5. National MTU Seminar Series [Coming Soon]
Since June 2022, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (NFETLHE) aligned former funding streams under SATLE to include an allocation in respect of national seminars hosted by higher education institutes (HEI) aligned with the themes:
- Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
- Digital Transformation in the Tertiary Sector
- Best Practice in Upholding and Cultivating Academic Integrity
The purpose of these seminars is to provide staff with an opportunity to connect with colleagues internally and externally, from across the higher education sector, to focus on shared interests in both the research and practice of TLASE enhancement and create opportunities to hear from national and international experts in this area.
