The Office for Learning and Teaching (OLT) administers nationally competitive grants under the OLT Grants Scheme. These programs are designed to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in higher education, to facilitate innovation and collaboration, and to disseminate best practice.

In 2012 the OLTwill have the following Grants Scheme programs:

  • Innovation and Development
  • Leadership for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
  • Seed Projects
  • Extension Grants
  • Strategic Priorities 

The Centre for University Teaching has internal deadlines for the submission of grant applications to the OLT in 2012. Our internal deadlines are aligned with the closing dates for both OLT rounds. Applicants are advised to read the 2012 Grants Program: Operational information and application instructions (PDF 687KB)  in conjunction with the grant specific information document provided below.

Innovation and development projects support research, development and innovation related to the enhancement of learning and teaching in higher education. The program covers a wide range of priority areas, including assessment, curriculum renewal, student diversity and internationalisation. Funding ranges from $50,000 - $220,000 and above. Innovation and development program information document (PDF 207KB) .

Leadership for excellence in learning and teaching projects build leadership capacity in ways consistent with the promotion and enhancement of learning and teaching in contemporary higher education. Funding ranges from $50,000 - $220,000 and above.  Leadership for excellence in learning and teaching program information (PDF 236KB) .

Seed projects provide for pilot projects which test and evaluate an original idea. Applicatoins can address any of the priorities in the Innovation and Development or Leadership for Excellence programs, or any other topic. Funded to a maximum of $50,000. Duration: up to one year. Further details are provided in the Leadereship for Excellence in Learning and Teaching projects information document and the Innovation and Development projects information document.

Extension grants support the continued dissemination and embedding of completed learning and teaching projects.

Strategic priority projects, the OLT will commission work addressing particular issues responding to Government priorities.

Important application information for 2012

All OLT Grant applications with a Flinders staff member listed as part of the project team require a letter of support from the DVC(A). The Project Officer, Teaching Awards and Grants coordinates and manages all OLT nominations for the University on behalf of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

  • To assist applicants, the Centre for University Teaching has implemented internal timelines to ensure that applications are thoroughly checked for substantive content and compliance with OLT guidelines prior to submission to the OLT. It is important that intending applicants contact the Project Officer: Teaching Awards and Grants to discuss their application and refer to our institutional timeline during their development of an ALTC Grant application.

Flinders staff members collaborating on an ALTC Grant application with another insitution as the Project Leader are advised of the following important requirements:

  • An Administration and Overhead Levy of 10% on any Flinders component of funding is to be included in the grant budget.
  • Institutional timelines apply for the provision of a letter of support from the DVC(A) - refer to our timeline for the due dates.

Funding Priorities for 2012 The OLT has established the following strategic themes as a basis to select grant priorities in 2012.

  • Impact of a demand-driven system
    • learning and teaching in a demand-driven system
    • large class sizes, including the role of the performing lecturer and tutorial sizes
    • evolution of the teaching model from first to final year and for the diverse student body
    • standards work
    • responding to the outcomes of the Base Funding Review
  • Indigenous higher education
    • support for Indigenous students, Indigenous teachers and the teachers of Indigenous students
    • targeting projects and awards towards specific Indigenous issues
    • responding to the outcomes of the Indigenous review
  • Technology
    • rethinking teaching in a cyber environment
  • Higher education workforce
    • what has most effectively improved the teaching skills of academics
    • professionalisation of the higher education workforce
  • Assessment
    • measuring the quality of assessment (external examiners)
  • Students
    • completion rates of second chance students
    • equity groups (low-SES, mixed ability, Indigenous)
    • enhancing the employability of graduates