(Please click HERE for a list of budget items not supported by the TDG Panel.)
Click to jump to the section below: Staff / Equipment / General Expenses
1. Staff
1.1 Types
- Student Project Assistant/Helper
Student Project Assistants/Helper should be current HKBU students. - Project Assistant
Project Assistants are available on a short-term basis. Based on the need of each case, the appointment can be made on a full-time or part-time basis and for a period as the case warranted.
1.2 Pay Rates
- Student Project Assistants will be remunerated at the standard hourly pay rate for part-time helpers recommended by the Finance Office. The pay scale for project assistants appointed for TDG projects follows the “Pay structure for Research Staff” (up to the salary level of Senior Research Assistant) as stipulated by the Personnel Office.
1.3 Detailed justification would need to be provided for recruitment of all project-related staff. Expected duties of each project-related staff member and duration of employment should be stated clearly. The duties expected of a Project Assistant would be to work directly with the Principal Investigator to assist in performing the duties as stipulated in the endorsed TDG proposal.
1.4 The Principal Investigator should ensure that the recruitment of any part-time project assistants for the project would not violate the University policy which stipulates that full-time postgraduate students receiving studentship would not be allowed to take up paid part-time work as well.
1.5 If a honorarium for guest speakers/individuals who have contributed to the project is proposed, the PI should provide relevant justifications and benchmark references to facilitate assessment of the proposed amount of honorarium. The TDG Panel shall, based on the availability of funding, decide whether the proposed honorarium is appropriate/acceptable.
2. Equipment
2.1 Normally equipment such as computers, printers, audio-visual equipment, etc. will not be funded. The Head of Department should be consulted first on the availability of the equipment from the Department or elsewhere in the University.
2.2 At the completion of the project, the equipment will be kept in the Faculty/School office and made available to all staff in the Faculty/School unless it is needed for on-going project development.
3. General Expenses
3.1 The term “Miscellaneous” includes items such as stationery, computer paper, fax, postage, etc. Normally, a maximum amount of HK$2,000 can be requested.
3.2 Other general expenses items may include minor computer equipments or electronic consumables such as films, tapes,CD/DVD/Blue-ray disks, USB flah drives, etc.
3.3 Purchase of specialized books and other teaching materials such as electronic resources, software and non-print materials that are needed for the project is allowed only if these items are not available by other means (e.g. department/faculty funding for teaching materials, etc.). Other incidental materials or non-traditional teaching and learning materials (which are directly relevant to the project) will also be supported with sound justifications.
3.4 The request for funding on the production cost of publication would not generally be supported.
3.5 Travel expenses and overseas trips (including trips for exchange of students and staff) and other one-off events without sustainable outcomes are generally not supported.
3.6 The request for the purchase of furniture, such as computer table, cabinet, etc. will not be considered.
3.7 For projects demanding support services, the Principal Investigator concerned should check the available services within the University (e.g. ITO for technical support services, CHTL/ITO for eLearning support, etc.).