NU 15 Online Education for International Positioning

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1 Page 1 (9) CALL FOR PROPOSALS NU 15 Online Education for International Positioning PLANNING GRANT FOR STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT The objective for the programme Online Education for International Positioning is to develop internationally viable online courses that contribute to the international profiling and positioning of the university s strong research and education environments. This call for proposals invites Sweden s new universities to apply for planning grants for the design of a strategy for the university for the international positioning through online education. If you have questions about the call, please contact: Linda Gustavsson, programme manager linda.gustavsson@kks.se We require your application no later than 3 p.m. (15:00) on 2 November 2015 Birgitta Olsson, project administrator birgitta.olsson@kks.se

2 Page 2 (8) Contents About the Knowledge Foundation 3 Background of the programme 3 Purpose and objective of the programme 4 Programme design 4 Application for planning grant 6 Who may apply? 6 Objective for the planning grant 6 How should the funds be used? 6 Formal requirements 6 Evaluation 7 Evaluation criteria, planning grant 7 Application 7 Timetable and decisions 8

3 Page 3 (8) About the Knowledge Foundation The Knowledge Foundation finances research and competence development at Sweden s new universities and university colleges 1 with the purpose of strengthening Sweden s competitiveness. We provide funding when activities are conducted in collaboration between academic staff and business sector partners. Background of the programme Society changes, and new technologies and new business models are changing the playing field for many industries and sectors of society. This applies equally to the education sector. Universities currently face increased competition, where profiling of research and higher education comprises a competitive edge for universities to assert themselves in the face of global competition. As part of this trend, various educational offerings based on technologyenhanced learning have emerged. The range of MOOCs (massive open online courses) has increased dramatically in later years. In the wake of MOOCs there is also a rapid development of smaller, focused courses and modules for clearly defined target groups and with admission based on defined entry requirements, for example SPOCs (small private online courses). An online education offering allows universities to position their strongest research and education environments both nationally and internationally, with the aim of establishing themselves against international competitors. Students today are an increasingly heterogeneous group, which also presents challenges for the design of educational offerings. New forms of teaching particularly online can make education available to a larger group of students. For instance, online education presents the possibility of reaching the working population. By using flexible, modular courses, studies can be combined and tailored to fit current work duties. As the technology for online education develops and matures, a balanced offering will be needed that includes campus-based as well as online educational solutions. This is needed to meet the challenges and possibilities that higher education will face ahead. 1 Blekinge Institute of Technology, Swedish Defence University, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences GIH, Dalarna University, University of Borås, University of Gävle, University of Halmstad, Jönköping University, Kristianstad University, University of Skövde, University West, Karlstad University, Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design, Linnaeus University, Malmö University, Mid Sweden University, Mälardalen University, Royal Institute of Art, Royal College of Music, Stockholm University of the Arts, Södertörn University and Örebro University.

4 Page 4 (8) Through this programme, the Knowledge Foundation would like to provide Sweden s new universities with the possibility to further strengthen their profiling and to position themselves nationally and internationally within their strongest research and education areas by offering second and thirdcycle online education. The Knowledge Foundation perceives this as a key element for the objective of building complete environments comprising a strong link between advanced competence development and leading research activities. Purpose and objective of the programme The programme aims to contribute to the international positioning of the university s strongest research and education areas by supporting the development of online, advanced education at second and third-cycle levels. The objective of the programme is to develop and implement online courses that are internationally viable; with a focus that reflects business sector needs, and which contribute to pedagogical development. The objective of this call for planning grants is the development of a strategy for the university for the international positioning of strong research and education environments through online education. The intention with the planning grant is to produce a basis for a subsequent application to the programme. Programme design Planning grant for strategy development This initial call for proposals invites the universities to apply for planning grants for the design of a strategy for the university for international positioning through online education. The strategy should address a delimited part of the university s activities, meaning areas where the intent is to develop and implement internationally viable, wholly online courses. The identified research and education environments must be internationally competitive. A planning grant can be granted for a project period of six months and amounts to SEK 350,000. No overhead costs are payable. Development and implementation of online courses Those universities who have received a planning grant will be invited to apply for funds for the development and implementation of online education based on the strategy developed with the planning grant. This application can

5 Page 5 (8) address subsets of the strategy, i.e. it may comprise courses at one or more of those strong research and education environments identified in the strategy. The initiative is to result in the development of targeted, online courses, not MOOCs. These targeted courses are characterised by having a clearly defined target group with admission based on defined entry requirements. In this way, the advantages that set MOOCs apart can be combined with the possibility of providing a tailored offering. Funding includes means for development of courses and also to a certain degree means for the implementation of courses. Requirements to be fulfilled for this funding is that the initiative concerns second and third cycle courses with a focus that corresponds to needs in the business sector and which leads to pedagogical development. The possibility of collaboration between universities exists, even universities not included in the Knowledge Foundation s target group. In the latter case, a university may contribute towards the development and implementation and be included in funding from the Knowledge Foundation provided that the main activities are conducted at the applicant university and that the application clearly shows that the collaboration benefits the research and education environment at the applicant university. The idea is that the programme is to support a long-term process where the university gradually develops and implements online education. Therefore it will be possible to apply for funds for additional subsets within the strategy. Project time for development and implementation of courses should be calculated to 3-4 years. Only those universities granted a planning grant may apply for funding for the development and implementation of online courses.

6 Page 6 (8) Application for planning grant Who may apply? Only Sweden s new universities authorised to award postgraduate degrees at a minimum of master s level, and if third-cycle courses are included also the authorisation to award doctoral degree, within the/those research and education areas addressed in the application can apply for funding. The call for proposals is intended for Sweden s new universities. The vice chancellor is the applicant as this concerns a strategy for the university as a whole. Objective for the planning grant The objective of this call for planning grants is the development of a strategy for the university for the international positioning of strong research and education environments through online education. The intention with the planning grant is to produce basis for a subsequent application to the programme. How should the funds be used? The planning grant may only be used for the development of the strategy for the university and planning for the development and implementation of online courses. Examples of project-related costs include staff salaries, the cost of premises as well as support/services for preparing supporting documents. The Foundation s funding does not cover the cost of any other activities or research, even if these are closely linked to the development activities. Formal requirements An application must meet the following requirements before the Knowledge Foundation will consider it for evaluation. If the application does not meet the following requirements, it will be rejected without further evaluation. The project must be in line with the purpose and objective of the call. The applicant university must be authorised to award postgraduate degrees at a minimum of master s level, and doctoral level for thirdcycle courses, within the/those research and education areas covered by the application.

7 Page 7 (8) The project is to pertain to a clearly delimited part of the university s activities, in which the strength of the research and education environment should be demonstrated. The latest starting date for the project is 1 February The project should continue for a period of six months. The vice-chancellor must sign the application. No additions or modifications to the application will be approved after submission of the application. Evaluation Funding decisions are made by the General Manager of the Knowledge Foundation (the first time by the Board) based on the recommendations of an external evaluation panel. The external evaulation panel makes an overal assessment of the applications based on the following criteria: Evaluation criteria, planning grant Scientific quality How is the project motivated in relation to the university s research and education strategy? From an international perspective, how strong are the research and education environments at the applicant university in the areas that the project addresses? Expected results and effects How is the initiative expected to contribute to the international positioning and profiling of the university s strong research and education environments? How will the initiative contribute to pedagogical development? Implementation Is the project plan clear and realistic in relation to set goals? Application The application for a planning grant must describe the university s ambitions regarding online education and how this ambition relates to the research and education strategy of the university. The ambition should address a delimited part of the university s activities. The application must also describe the environments at the university where potential to develop internationally viable, online courses can be identified. The application is to include a project

8 Page 8 (8) plan describing how the university intends to develop a strategy for the university for international positioning of the university s strong research and education environments through online education. Applications may be submitted in Swedish or English. The application is to be sent by mail to info@kks.se. The application for a planning grant must include the following components (max 10 pages): A description of the university s ambition for online education and how this relates to the research and education strategy of the university. A description of potential research and education environments which shows their national and international position. A project plan containing: o Plan and method for the identification of courses to be offered as online education. o Plan and method for mapping the international educational offerings of online education within addressed subject areas and the positioning of the applicant s own planned online courses. Applicants signatures (project leader and vice-chancellor) Timetable and decisions Applications for planning grants must be submitted to the Knowledge Foundation no later than 3 p.m. (15:00) on 2 November The application is to be sent by mail to info@kks.se. Notification of decisions regarding the planning grant no later than 15 December Projects for which planning grants are granted can start after agreements have been signed, no later than 1 February Applications for funding of development and implementation of online courses must be received by the Knowledge Foundation no later than 15 September 2016.