Communities of Practice (CoPs) Funding

Workflow of TDG Applications

Under normal circumstances, TDG applications submitted to the TDG Secretariat are processed according to this WORKFLOW which sets out the steps to be undertaken by both of the TDG Panel (and its Secretariat) and the Principal Investigator (PI).

Important Notes on Obtaining Ethical Clearance for your Proposal

Guidelines (with sample screenshots) for Obtaining Ethical Clearance from the Research Ethics Committee (Download here!)

You must submit your proposal to the Human (non-clinical) Research Ethics Panel of the Research Ethics Committee (REC) to obtain ethics/safety clearance in parallel while the TDG Panel is reviewing your application. The TDG Secretariat will confirm that you have obtained clearance from the said Panel after the review. Please note that TDG cannot support any project without ethical clearance. You are strongly advised to follow the above Guidelines for the procedures and an example of applying for ethical clearance from the REC.

Depending on when your proposal will be finally approved, the actual start and completion dates of your project may differ from your proposed ones.

Application Form

Funding Limit of CoPs

The CoPs funding set for each proposal would range from HK$200,000 to HK$500,000, depending on the sustainability, size and impact of the proposal. A more detailed application form is available for applying for TDG to support a CoP.

Submission of Applications

Completed application forms should be submitted to the TDG Panel for vetting via the following way:

• Send along the hardcopy of application to the following address;
  Dr Theresa Kwong
  Centre of Holistic Teaching and Learning
  AAB803, 8/F, Academic and Administration Building,
  No. 15 Baptist Rd, Baptist Rd Campus,
  Kowloon Tong

Criteria for Selection

Based around the order of funding priorities, selection of CoP proposals will be carried out according to the following criteria:

• Intrinsic merit (Double weighting applies for these criteria)*
  • Addressing significant issues with respect to virtual, mixed-mode, or face-to-face teaching and learning (T&L)
  • Promoting pedagogic research and scholarship of T&L
• Innovation (Double weighting applies for these criteria)*
  • Developing new pedagogical or teaching approaches
  • New ideas regarding aims, objectives and/or methods of virtual, mixed-mode, or face-to-face T&L
• Design
  • Appropriate project design with clear goals and specific activities/methodology
  • Clear/Feasible implementation plan
  • Involving student(s) as investigator(s) in the project
  • Engaging students to benefit their learning
  • Involving collaboration with colleague(s) outside the PI’s Department/Faculty and/or individual(s) from external organisations
  • Appropriate budgeting
• Project Outcomes and Evaluation
  • Evaluation mechanisms to ensure the project is effective in achieving the outcomes
  • Achievable and appropriate intended outcomes, including how the project could enhance the quality of virtual, mixed-mode, or face-to-face T&L, and the number of target students involved in the project
  • Ongoing monitoring process included
• Impact
  • Likely to improve virtual, mixed-mode, or face-to-face T&L for a sizable number of participants
  • Likely to continue as part of a regular programme in the future
  • Outcomes likely to apply in a wider context
• Alignment to University’s Strategic Direction
  • Addressing the issues set out in Institutional Strategic Plan 2018-2028
  • Assisting students to achieve the HKBU Graduate Attributes

* Double weighting applies for these selection criteria due to their direct relevance to the primary purposes of TDG on enhancing the quality of virtual, mixed-mode, or face-to-face T&L at the University.

Guidelines on Budget Adjustments Made after the Approval of Proposals

1. Project coordinator(s) will NOT be allowed to change any budget items in the project unless with strong justifications once the proposal is approved;
2. In case of any need(s) of adjusting the budget, project investigators should submit their application providing sound justifications, together with a revised proposal, highlighting the impact of the proposed change on the budget; and
3. The following budget items are limited to a maximum change of 10%:
   • Staffing,
   • Conference expenses, and
   • Expenses relating to student participation in the project.

Purposed Budget Items

(Please click HERE for a list of budget items not supported by the TDG Panel.)

Budget items proposed should be of direct relevance to the project and with sound justifications. Items to be supported by the CoPs funding are as follows: staff / equipment / general expenses

1. Staff

1.1 Types

1. Student Project Assistant/Helper
   Student Project Assistants/Helper should be current HKBU students.
2. 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

1. 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 CoP 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 CoP proposal.

1.4 The Principal Coordinator 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.

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.).