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GRANT APPLICATION GUIDELINES

These guidelines serve to assist researchers and reviewers in meeting the requirements and expectations of the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETaL), Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) grant.

  1. In line with CETaL’s aim to advocate innovative teaching and learning initiatives which will bring about impactful learning outcome for our university’s students and lecturers, the Centre is offering SoTL Grant to enable interested academicians to experiment new approaches to teaching and learning within the context of engineering, technology, science and business management education within the Classroom, Programme or Institutional Levels.
  2. Researchs must be carried out to improve teaching and learning practices in UTP, and within the context of UTP.
  3. Researchers may work with collaborators outside of UTP, but the grant amount approved CANNOT be used to fund the external collaborator or used for other research work beyond the scope of the SoTL grant. This means SoTL funds CANNOT be used to carry out research activities not related to the SoTL research.
  4. SoTL Grants provided by the University is a seed fund for senior and junior researchers to initiate Teaching and Learning research projects. It is provided to encourage researchers to embark on research that would be able to enhance and build their pedagogical and research competencies within the context of innovation in teaching and learning. The offering of SoTL grants is also in line with the University’s objective to increase its number of principal investigators and publications.
  5. The output of the SoTL research shall be translated into impactful teaching and learning approaches, processes, tools, educational materials, curricula, pedagogies, guidelines and policies. SoTL grants can also be used as a feeder for the submission of international and national competitive grants.
  6. The duration of research for a Classroom level SoTL grant application is 12 months, to allow at least 2 cycles of teaching and learning improvement to take place within the period of the grant. An extension of 6 months is allowed, making the total duration of Classroom based SoTL research 18 months, maximum. This extension may be allowed on a case-to-case basis, and at the discretion of CETaL.
  7. The duration of research for Programme or Institutional level SoTL grant applications is 24 months. No extension is provided.
  8. Applicants are eligible to request for a grant amount of up to RM 25 000 for Classroom level SoTL grant applications, and a maximum of RM 50 000 for Programme / Institutional level SoTL grant applications.
  9. The sum approved must be used to carry out SoTL research to improve teaching and learning practices at Classroom / Programme / Institutional level within UTP.
  10. All grant holders must participate in the SoTL Community of Practice and SoTL Clinics that will be put in motion, upon the disbursement of the grants.
  11. SoTL Grants are open to all academicians, regardless of position grade.
  12. Each applicant is only eligible to apply for one grant per cycle.
  13. SoTL grants can be applied to as a sole researcher, who will assume the role of Principal Investigator. Joint application with a maximum of 3 team members, excluding the Principal Investigator is also possible.
  14. In the event of intention to submit a second SoTL grant application, the project leader must firstly submit to CETaL, a progress report indicating that the progress of the first SoTL project is at least 75% complete.

  1. The SoTL proposal will be screened through three (3) stages;
    1. review and recommendation by a CETaL Founding / Associate Member,
    2. review and recommendation by the CETaL Teaching & Learning Innovation Committee (TLIC) and
    3. approval by the Head of CETaL and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic (DVCA).
  2. The proposal will be vetted by the CETaL Teaching & Learning Innovation Committee (TLIC), which will be chaired by the CETaL Manager.
  3. The final approving authority is the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic (DVCA).
  4. CETaL will issue a notification through email of project approval, with cost centre details, to successful SoTL grant applicants.

The Principal Investigator is required to submit a progress report every SIX (6) months from the project approval date. The progress report will be reviewed by the CETaL Teaching & Learning Innovation Committee (TLIC) and approved by the Manager of CETaL and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic (DVCA).

An extension of 6 months is allowed for Classroom based SoTL research, making the total duration 18 months. This extension may be allowed on a case-to-case basis, and at the discretion of CETaL. The duration of research for Programme or Institutional level SoTL grant applications is 24 months. No extension is provided. The principal investigator may request for extension via UResearch. The extension request will be verified by TLIC and endorsed by the Manager of CETaL.

Researchers must produce publications of their research findings in local or international impact factor publications. In addition, IPR, prototype, human capital etc shall also be reported as deliverables of the SoTL projects.

If a project leader leaves the University, or for whatever reason calls for change of project leader, CETaL will notify the Department Chair to nominate a suitable replacement to lead the project, based on recommendations from the project leader, if deemed appropriate. The nomination of new project leader must be approved by the Manager of CETaL

SoTL Projects can be terminated based on:
  • Non-performance in terms of progress
  • Non-completion of the project
  • Any false reporting by the project leader
  • Any misuse of the grant provided
  • In the event of resignation, retirement or transfer as stated in 1.5 above, a suitable project leader as a replacement is unavailable to take over the project
  • Any other reasons that delay the SoTL project

  1. The researcher has to complete the SoTL Online Application Form and submit it to the CETaL Academic Executive.
  2. CETaL will be implementing on-line submissions, where the researcher can apply for SoTL grants directly via the submission system.
  3. The researcher shall apply the SMART rules; Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timeliness in his/her research proposal.
    • Research Proposal (to be filled by Principal Investigator)
    • Project Title: Title of the project (be specific and defined)
    • Project Leader and Team member: (composition of research team members can be multi-disciplinary across the Academic Programme)
    • Project duration: timeliness, realistic, achievable within the stipulated timeline
    • Research background: literature review, research motivation, benefits of the research, problem statement, and any pertinent information to support the background of the project.
    • Research objectives: the expected deliverables, end result, outcome, end product.
    • Research methodology: planning activities of the research and milestone (to attach flowchart and Gantt chart (including the milestone) for the project duration).
    • Facilities:
      • Existing facilities (Equipment/machine/gadget/apparatus/tools/etc. already available in the university to support the project)
      • Additional facilities (Additional equipment /machine /gadget /apparatus /tools /special services/etc. required to support the project)​

  1. All SoTL Grant Applications shall be evaluated by the CETaL Teaching & Learning Innovation Committee (TLIC).
  2. The evaluation is conducted by completing the TLIC SoTL Evaluation Form.
  3. The following questions may help the reviewer/assessor in doing his/her assessment and evaluation of the research proposal:
    • Is the proposed research project in line with the Centre’s roadmap, activities and key priority areas?
    • How does this research add value to Teaching and Learning in UTP?
    • What is the potential benefit of this project?
    • Is the project objective achievable within the proposed period?
    • Is the research methodology appropriate?
    • Are the activities provided in the flowchart or Gantt chart detailed enough?
    • Are the facilities required acceptable and adequate?
    • Is the budget realistic and specific?

Note: The reviewer/assessor is to use the remark column on the TLIC SoTL Evaluation Form to comment on the proposal. The SMART rule is to be used to note comments. The reviewer/assessor is to provide feedback through inspiring leadership, nurturing relationship, effective persuasion, achievement drive, optimism and empathy.

Provide detailed budgeting e.g. RM material cost/unit, RM rental/day, etc.

Provide detailed justification for each budgeted item.

VOT 11000
Salary and Wages
SoTL grants cannot be used to budget GA, GRA or Research Officers​

VOT 21000
Travel and Transportation
Use mileage RM 0.80/km or airfare or taxi fare as a basis. This code shall include meals and accommodation allowances. Student traveling is subject to student’s entitlement as agreed by CETaL in consultation with CGS, Deans and HoDs.

VOT 24000
Rentals
Rentals of vehicles, equipment, space, etc.

VOT 27000
Research Material and Supplies - consumables
Priority is to be given on the procurement of research materials and consumables. Materials, stationeries, supplies and services which are readily available in university such as pen, pencils, markers, transparencies, paper, photocopying machines, fax machines, postal services, etc should not be budgeted.

VOT 28000
Minor Modification, Maintenance & Repair Works
Minor modifications, maintenance and repair works shall also include upgrading of certain equipment/software.

VOT 29000

Special Services
Engagement of external parties to provide professional services such as testing of materials, data interpretation, legal opinion, etc. or other services which may require payment of certain fees. PI is requested to submit details through UResearch.

SoTL grants can be utilised to pay for special service assistants as per following rates :

QualificationRate
Degree and above (Executive)
RM100/day
SPM and above (Non-Executive)

SPM ( Must 18 years-old and above )		RM80/day
​​Leaves entitlement:
  • 1 day/month earned Annual Leave​
  • 1 day/month Sick Leave​

​Conferences & Publications fees to share findings of research

CETaL will organise an annual conference/ seminar/ workshop, where all grant recipients are required to share the findings of their research at this event. The grant may also be used to facilitate the payment of administrative charges to publish findings of the research in impact factor journals. Grant holders wanting to attend external conferences using SoTL grant must attend as presenters and must ensure conference proceedings are indexed. Only local conferences are allowed, and subject to approval from DVCA.

Others
SoTL Grants cannot be used to cover any membership fees.


VOT 35000
Special Equipment (Equipment and Accessories)
Priority is to be given on the procurement of additional equipment/ accessories/ gadgets/circuits/batteries/casing/etc.

  • Approval Process for awarding the SoTL Grant (Bottom-Up)
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  • Approval Process for awarding the SoTL Grant (Top-Down)
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  • Approval Process for Payment of Special Service, SoTL Grant
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PROCESS of PURCHASING ITEM(s) THROUGH SoTL GRANT
All procurement process to be requested via UResearch platform.


CLOSURE AND FINAL SOTL PROJECT COMPLETION REPORT TEMPLATES
You can download the template here:Click Here
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Training Related to SoTL
 
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Workshops
 
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Clinic
Where Can You Present Your Findings
 
TLIF (Teaching and Learning Innovation Festival)
 
IPHEX
 
IUCEL
 
Conference on Teaching and Learning
 
Journals for Publication (of education)