Teaching & Learning Innovation Fund

Overview  

The Teaching & Learning Innovation Fund (TLIF) is designed to support innovations related to teaching and learning and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning at KPU (Kwantlen Polytechnic University). Recognizing the diverse array of programs and instructional approaches that are necessary and valued at a polytechnic university, the TLIF takes an inclusive approach by supporting a broad range of projects that advance the innovation and the scholarship of teaching and learning at KPU (Academic Plan) (Vision 2026).  

Eligibility

Regular instructors and support staff with instructional responsibilities (e.g., lab instructors, etc.) are eligible to apply for TLIF grants. Applications may be submitted by individuals or groups. Non-regular instructors and students may be co-applicants.

Applicants are eligible to apply for funding a maximum of two times for the same project, and the approval of funding will be based on support for iterative revisions or continued expansion of their initiative. These grants will not support funding requests for operational activities for completed projects for the funding streams discussed below.  

Funding Streams  

The grant offers two streams of funding. Before you submit your application, carefully read the requirements of each stream below as well as all relevant information provided in each of the tabs for these streams.

 

TLIF Innovation Stream 

TLIF Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Stream

PurposeFunding from this stream is available for many projects that support the innovation of teaching and learning practices at KPU.  Funding from this stream is available for scholarship of teaching and learning related projects at KPU.  
Types of funding/ projects

The following types of innovation projects can be funded through the innovation stream. See examples below  

  • Educational media creation
  • Experiential/service-learning projects  
  • Inclusive design/universal design for learning projects
  • Instructional resource creation (including for collaborative “sprint” projects)
  • Open pedagogy projects
  • Problem-based learning projects
  • Virtual/augmented reality projects 

The following types of SoTL project activities can be funded through the SoTL stream. Some examples are:

  • SoTL projects/research - Hiring student assistants to support the proponent complete the study, hiring copy editors to review SoTL articles, honorariums for research participants etc
  • SOTL Dissemination - If the proponent is accepted to present the SoTL study findings at a conference, funding towards registration fees, travel and accommodation costs.  
Maximum FundingReceive up to a maximum of $2500 in funding for innovation projects.

Here is the breakdown of funding.  

  • SoTL Projects/Reseach – Maximum of $3000
  • SOTL Dissemination – Maximum of $3000  
Limitations
  • Funding will be available for a maximum of one year from the beginning of the fiscal year (April) to the end (March). Any unused funds will not be carried over to the next fiscal year. 
  • This innovation steam will not award grants to hire student or research assistants for projects
  • Ongoing operational needs of teaching and learning innovations will not be funded from this stream
  • Funding will be available for a maximum of one year from the beginning of the fiscal year (April) to the end (March). Any unused funds will not be carried over to the next fiscal year.  
  • At the time of applying for the grant, the proponent must provide evidence that an ethics application to the KPU (Other relevant ethics boards, if applicable) REB has been submitted or have received an exemption from REB for this study 
More Info

TLIF Innovation Stream

TLIF SoTL Stream

Expectations of all TLIF Funding Recipients

  1. Submit a final report upon completion of the project to the tlcommons@kpu.ca mailbox (template will be provided).
  2. Actively share the results of the project within the KPU community, including by:
    1. Writing a blog post for the Teaching & Learning Commons' Pedagogy + Practice blog
    2. Being interviewed by staff in the Office of Teaching & Learning, for a feature in a newsletter, podcast, or on the website
    3. Presenting on the project at the Annual Symposium, KPU Day, or other appropriate internal opportunities for professional development
    4. Sharing the artefacts of the project (which may include assignment guides, rubrics, learning resources, or instructional plans) by uploading a copy of these into our institutional repository (KORA) under an open, Creative Commons license which allows others to freely adapt, modify, copy, and/or redistribute the material for teaching and learning related purposes
  3. Submit project proposals to the KPU's Research Ethics Board for approval, if applicable.
  4. Acknowledge support of the Teaching & Learning Innovation Fund during presentations or in related publications.