Do you have an inspiring idea for how to create innovation and change in eLearning, student success strategies and retention, internationalization and/or experiential education? Perhaps you are interested in submitting a proposal to enhance the scholarship of teaching and learning. If so, why not submit a proposal to York University’s highly successful Academic Innovation Fund (AIF)? The call for project submissions is now open and the deadline to submit your idea(s) is Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, by 4 p.m.
AIF was created in 2010 to encourage innovation in teaching, learning and the student experience. In 2018-19, AIF moved forward with Phase Three funding for the period from 2018 to 2021. This phase addresses particular institutional priorities outlined in York’s University Academic Plan (2015-2020), Strategic Mandate Agreement and the Institutional Integrated Resource Plan.
There will be two categories of funding: Category I funding will support academic innovation projects and Category II funding will support Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) projects. Note that previous Category II funding supported course redevelopment, which will now be supported on an ongoing and continuous basis by the Blended and Online Learning Development (BOLD) team.
All proposals for Categories I and II will be reviewed, approved and ranked by the Office of the Faculty Dean before being submitted to the Office of the Provost. Each Faculty may have its own internal deadline. Faculty members should consult the Office of Dean for internal submission deadlines.
The Phase Three, Year Two (2019-2020) call for proposals prioritizes the following areas:
- embedding eLearning within undergraduate or graduate degree programs using blended or fully online strategies (refer to the eLearning Common Language document) and/or
- embedding Experiential Education (EE) within undergraduate or graduate degree programs through community-focused and/or work-focused EE strategies (refer to the EE Common Language document), which might include or focus on entrepreneurialism in the curriculum, and/or;
- embedding student success and retention strategies within the curriculum in undergraduate degree programs (refer to the First Year Experience [curricular] for guidance), and/or;
- embedding internationalization within undergraduate or graduate degree programs; internationalization of curriculum implies integrating an intercultural dimension into the learning and teaching process so that students can acquire an appreciation and understanding of international perspectives and competencies.
Some ways to achieve internationalization of the curriculum are:
- by integrating intercultural or comparative focus with existing courses and/or degree programs;
- designing summer abroad courses, programs, field schools and integrating international internships;
- developing and implementing technological tools to support internationalization of the curriculum.
Category II projects focused on SoTL
Faculty members are invited to submit proposals for a research project investigating an aspect of teaching and learning grounded in their own teaching. Successful applicants will be provided with in-kind integrated professional development and research support from the Teaching Commons (including individual consultation and a year-long program EduCATE – Education, Curriculum, And Teaching Excellence) and will be expected to present their work at York’s annual teaching and learning conference TiF (Teaching in Focus).
The success of AIF initiatives funded thus far has allowed York University to build robust pan-University strategies and systems supporting the further growth and development of curricular innovation. Many of York University’s current students are benefiting from these innovations.
Application resources
- To download the application guidelines for Phase 3 of the AIF, click here.
- To download a PDF of the application form for Category I, click here.
- To download a PDF of the Category 1 Project Plan and Budget, click here.
- To download a PDF of the application form for Category II, click here.
For more information, contact the Office of the Associate Vice-President Teaching and Learning at:
Phone: 416-736-5280
Fax: 416-736-5876
Email: avptl@yorku.ca
Location: 9th Floor, Kaneff Tower.
To learn more about previously funded AIF Projects, visit the AIF website.