Application for project funding for educational renewal and pedagogical development

Pennor i en mängd olika färger

To stimulate pedagogical development at Uppsala University, the Vice-Chancellor announces project funding annually. For the financial year 2025, the announced amount totals SEK 2,000,000, according to decision UFV 2023/2268.

Project funding is distributed between five different areas of application:

  • Education renewal and general pedagogic development: refers to projects dealing with educational renewal and general pedagogical development in a course, at an institution, or in a training programme.
  • AI, digitised teaching and e-learning: refers to projects involving the development of digital resources and tools to support student learning.
  • Sustainable development: refers to projects that highlight complex sustainability issues and promote students' action competences and a democratic and critical approach.
  • Internationalisation and intercultural communication: refers to projects that develop students' international and intercultural perspectives and skills.
  • Lifelong learning: refers to projects for the development of training or retraining of professionals. It can be contractual, supplementary or specialist training, or the adaptation of stand-alone courses and training programmes.

Each approved project is awarded a maximum of SEK 250,000. In cases where a project is interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary and involves cooperation between different scientific fields, up to SEK 350,000 may be awarded.

The deadline for submission of applications is 20th March 2024 23:59.

  • Project funding is provided for first and second cycle courses and study programmes, not for postgraduate education.
  • The project shall be co-financed by the institution(s) concerned with the overhead costs incurred.
  • The main applicant must have a teaching position at Uppsala University.
  • The application must be authorised by the Head of Department by an electronic signature.
  • Funding is not available for projects that are purely for staff training.
  • If PUMA funding has been received on a previous occasion, a new application cannot be submitted until the previous project has been formally closed.
  • Only one application will be accepted per project, i.e. the same project cannot apply for funding from two different application areas.
  • It is possible for the project funds to be included in other pedagogical development projects with funding from other sources. If so, this should be indicated in the application.
  • The application must be submitted via a form.

1. Criteria that apply to all applications, regardless of the application area:

The project...

  • is based on a clearly articulated pedagogical idea that is expected to have a positive impact on student learning.
  • contains new ideas, tools or ways of working that are expected to contribute to development in the given context.
  • includes a realistic plan for project planning, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of experience.
  • relates to pedagogical research and proven experience.
  • involve colleagues to anchor the project and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the project.
  • involve students to enable them to actively contribute to the planning, implementation and/or evaluation of the project.

2. In addition to the general criteria (1.), the following criteria apply to projects in the field of AI, digitalised teaching and e-learning:

The project...

  • involves the development of online learning environments where the use of digital resources and tools in teaching supports student learning.
  • analyses and considers technology requirements, student support needs, accessibility aspects taking into account disabilities, and the technical and digital sustainability.

3. In addition to the general criteria (1.), the following criteria apply to projects in the field of sustainable development:

The project...

  • highlights complex sustainability issues in education and training.
  • promotes students' action competences on sustainability issues and a democratic and critical approach.

4. In addition to the general criteria (1.), the following criteria apply to projects in the internationalisation and intercultural communication application area:

The project...

  • broaden and deepen students' international and intercultural perspectives
  • develops students' skills to work in a changing, global society requiring intercultural competences.

5. In addition to the general criteria (1.), the following criteria apply to projects in the field of lifelong learning:

The project...

  • contributes to lifelong learning by developing a dialogue with alumni and representatives of working life, and making use of their experiences.
  • promotes continuing education or retraining programmes for professionals with a basic academic education to help them meet the challenges of today's changing society.

The unit for Academic Teaching and Learning manages the call, the assessment work and follow-up. The project applications are processed by an assessment group consisting of a chairperson, teacher representatives from the three fields of science, student representatives and administrators from the unit for Academic Teaching and Learning. The assessment of project applications is based on the objectives and intentions of the guidelines for Teaching and Learning at Uppsala University and the criteria listed above.

The evaluation process aims to ensure a high level of quality of the projects. It is therefore not a given that the full amount of funding is proposed to be allocated. The evaluation team submits proposals to the Vice-Chancellor, who decides on the allocation of funds.

  • Deadline for applications 20th March 2024 23:59.
  • The decision on the allocation of funds will be taken in June 2024.
  • The allocated funds are intended for the year 2025 but will be available already for the autumn semester 2024, i.e. the project can start already then.
  • Disposition of funds: Half of the granted funds can be requisitioned after the Vice-Chancellor's decision on allocation, the remaining funds are paid out after approved reporting of the project.
  • Deadline for final written report including financial accounts: 30th June 2026.

The unit for Academic Teaching and Learning continuously organises seminars for collegial exchange of ideas and experiences before and during the implementation of the projects. It is strongly recommended to participate in these seminars. It is also possible to contact the unit's pedagogical developers during the project.

The knowledge and experience generated by the projects should be disseminated within the university. It is desirable that students who have been involved in the project are given the opportunity to participate in the dissemination of experiences as well. An important arena for dissemination is Uppsala University's educational development conference, which is organised every two years, as well as other relevant conferences and/or publication in appropriate journals. The recording studio in Blåsenhus also offers the possibility of recorded presentations, for example in the form of a film or an audio recording/podcast.

The project must be reported in a final report, approximately five pages, that will include a brief financial account and an evaluation of the project.

Unused funds will be returned to university-wide strategic funds.

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