Global practice sharing and learning is a cornerstone of the support that Advance HE provides for member institutions. Through funding small case studies, our Global Impact Grants are an opportunity for Advance HE members to share success stories about higher education projects that have had a demonstrable impact on their staff and/or students.
Grants of up to £1,000 will be awarded to 15 successful applicants from Advance HE member institutions and international membership beneficiaries to provide short case studies of recent practice (750-1000 words) that align to our overarching Grant theme of contributing to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and one of four subthemes (Education for sustainable development; supporting reduced inequality and sustainable inclusion; building future leaders; delivering strategic change in HE sustainability).
The case studies will be published and shared on the Advance HE website, and available to members as examples of international best practice.
Applications are closed for 2023-24
Themes
Our overarching theme for this year is sharing work that contributes to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Case studies must also align to one of four sub-themes:
1. Education For Sustainable Development (ESD)
Initiatives or projects that address how ESD has been framed within curricula and how ESD principles have been operationalised as learning outcomes, or how the staff has been supported to embed ESD in the curricula. We are particularly interested to hear about effective pedagogies for ESD including:
- problem or project-based learning
- involving multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary learning initiated by local real-world, sustainability challenges relevant to your regional perspective or context
- service learning or engagement with local communities either as curricular or extra-curricular activities
- other approaches you have found to be effective in embedding ESD.
Case studies may reflect on the pedagogies, assessments and teaching approaches used (and why), the associated student outcomes and perceptions, and any barriers encountered. You can learn more about Advance HE’s past work on ESD here.
2. Supporting Reduced Inequality and Sustainable Inclusion
Initiatives or projects that share impactful examples of supporting reduced inequalities and building sustainable approaches to diversity, inclusion and belonging. This may include projects engaging with the SDGs via Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives, student and/or staff training initiatives, projects linked to SDG 5 Gender Equality, 10 Reduced Inequality, or 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, or projects to embed/support engagement with reducing inequality in the community (SDG 17).
3. Building Future Leaders
Initiatives or projects that share how leadership development is supporting the challenges facing higher education in the future. This can include all levels of leadership, from those that are new to leadership (such as course, programme or module leaders) through to executive and senior leaders. It may include policies or initiatives outlining how institutions are embedding SDG leadership in their structures, projects on distributed leadership, or work on developing leadership skills and capacity to address any of the UN SDGs.
4. Delivering Strategic Change in HE Sustainability
Initiatives or projects that share approaches to strategic change in sustainability. This can include projects which show transformational approaches within strategy development, initiatives or programmes that review strategic alignment to the SDGs, projects that have shown high-level impacts across several SDGs, approaches linked with governmental or sector sustainability goals, or institutional approaches to building awareness and engagement.
Summary of Key Dates
- Application deadline: 20 March 2024 (23:59 GMT)
- Successful applicants notified: w/c 22 April 2024
- Case Study submissions deadline: 31 May 2024
- Invoice submission deadline: 5 July 2024
Application and Selection Process
Applications will be evaluated on the following basis:
- The case study has a demonstrable impact on staff or students
- The case study shares approaches relevant to its target audience that would be of interest to the global higher education community
- The case study is relevant of the overarching theme and the chosen subtheme.
To support the intended purpose of this grant, applicants from different international contexts are encouraged to apply. Advance HE will be awarding 15 grants, with the following additional criteria:
- A maximum of 2 grants per institution will be awarded.
- A maximum of 8 grants will be awarded to institutions in a single country.
Successful applicants will be notified in April 2024.
Successful applicants will be expected to write a case study of 750-1000 words providing details of the initiative or project conducted and its impact. The deadline for submission of case studies for successful applicants is 31 May 2024.
Applicants are also required to provide institutional financial details to allow the grant to be paid, and an invoice upon request.
Other Information
Exclusivity
For transparency, it is expected that the final report and outputs are primarily shared with Advance HE member institutions. Successful applicants wishing to share their published submissions outside member institutions are kindly requested to ask for permission in writing beforehand. Any such requests should be submitted to: communications@advance-he.ac.uk.
Payment
Advance HE will confirm the level of the grant award after evaluation. Payment will be made to the member institution. To enable this, Advance HE may request the completion of a supplier set-up form once the grant is awarded.
Advance HE will supply a Purchase Order for the grant funding. Institutions will need to raise an invoice for payment of the grant funding. Advance HE requires this invoice to be submitted by 5 July 2024 to ensure payment. Payment will only be made on receipt of an invoice from the institution.
Advance HE will supply a Purchase Order for the grant funding. Institutions will need to raise an invoice for payment of the grant funding. Advance HE requires this invoice to be submitted by 5 July 2024 to ensure payment. Payment will only be made on receipt of an invoice from the institution.
Questions
If you have any questions or require any further information, please contact: Networks@advance-he.ac.uk.
FAQs
Q: What happens if I’m unable to meet the application deadline of 20 March 2024?
A: It will not be possible to extend the published deadline. All applications must be received by 20 March 2024 (23:59 GMT).
Q: Can I submit more than one application?
A: Yes, though Advance HE will only fund a maximum of two applications per institution.
Q: Will my final case study be published exactly as submitted?
A: The case studies will go through our publication process. It may be necessary to make edits for style and consistency purposes. We will clarify any major edits with the authors.
Q: If my application is unsuccessful, will I receive feedback?
A: Unfortunately, it will not be possible to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
Q: What happens if I miss the deadline for submitting my invoice?
A: It may not be possible to provide the grant award of £1,000 if invoices are not submitted by the deadline of 5 July 2024.
Q: Can you tell me more about the review process?
A: Applications will be reviewed by peer reviewers with expertise in the areas described. Applications will be sent to reviewers without details of the individual or institution submitting.
Q: Is any further support available from Advance HE before I submit my application?
A: The requirements for grant applications are available on the Global Impact Grants website. You can also find links on this page to grants that were successfully awarded in 2022 and 2023. We cannot provide individual support for applicants, but if you have any questions about the process you can contact networks@advance-he.ac.uk.
Q: I’m based in the UK. Can I participate?
A: Global Impact Grants are only for Advance HE members and member beneficiaries based outside the UK. You might also be interested in the Innovative Practice Grants for members from UK College Based Higher Education or Small or Specialist institutions. Advance HE also runs a Collaborative Development Fund scheme for all its members, which we expect will open again at the end of 2024.
Q: What kind of institutions can apply for Global Impact Grants?
Applications are open for Advance HE international member institutions and international membership beneficiaries.
Q: Can you clarify what funding may be used for and what evidence you need of its use?
A: The funding is granted for the provision of your case study, which is the work we require to fulfil the grant. We do not require any further evidence of the use of the funding.
Q: When will the successful grants be published?
A: We expect to publish the final grant document in September or October 2024. We will notify all case study authors upon publication.
Explore the Global Impact Grants 22 - 23
Advance HE made 15 awards of Global Impact Grants in May 2023 with the intention of sharing work conducted across our international membership that has had a demonstrable impact on staff or students.
These case studies from around the world address three specific issues in global higher education: Innovation in teaching and learning, Engaged distributed leadership and Building Inclusion and belonging.
