Grassroots+ grant

Basically, a Grassroots+ grant builds on an already implemented grant project with demonstrable and promising results. Educators, students and/or supporting staff at the University of Amsterdam with this type of project can apply. The following conditions apply:

• You have carried out a project on an innovative ICT tool and have already completed this project. You must be able to demonstrate that your innovation has had an impact and how it has improved education. This improvement can be in many ways. For example:
  • reducing educators’ workload;
  • encouraging students to think about or apply the material more (inter)actively;
  • encouraging students to apply their knowledge in innovative ways;
  • providing (more) feedback in easier ways to educators and/or students.

You must be able to demonstrate these improvements through, for example, student and/or educator evaluations over several years by comparing results from before the use of the ICT tool with results from after its use. This shows the impact of the ICT tool.

• The ICT tool in your project should not only be applicable to other courses within your own program but also to courses in other programs and faculties. As a grant holder, TLC Central helps you network with other faculties to get interested faculty members involved in the project.
• You implemented your project with the help of an education grant. This can be a UvA TLC Education grant (such as the regular Grassroots grant, TLC Didactic Innovation grant and the theme grant) or another UvA Education grant.
• Have you not yet completed your project and/or implemented your project with the help of an education grant? Then you can also apply for the Grassroots+ grant if you arrange support from your faculty TLC or ICTO. They must then also be involved in the project.
• Students and/or supporting staff who apply for a Grassroots+ grant must always involve an educator in their application to ensure that the Grassroots+ has a place in education.

The Grassroots+ grant has a duration of 2 years and is intended for projects with a duration of at least 2 years. Does the project need more time? No additional funds will be provided, but support from TLC Central may be extended to complete the project.

We use the following criteria when evaluating and selecting applications:

Nature and impact of the grant project

• The applicant convincingly explains the reason for the project: what general educational issue will the proposed ICT tool address? And why is this innovation a good solution to address the issue?
• The impact of the grant project takes place at interfaculty level and goes beyond personal and/or course-specific level and is broadly applicable within other courses, programmes and faculties.
• The applicant provides concrete examples and/or evidence to show that the ICT tool has led to improvement in education (for example, via student evaluations and performance or feedback from educators).

Applicability and scalability of the ICT tool

• On a didactic level: the applicant explains why the proposed ICT tool is of interest to others in other, new contexts in education. How can the ICT tool be used by others? And which other educators, programmes and/or faculties could use it in your opinion? Engage at least 2 other faculties in your ICT intervention.
• On a technical level: the applicant explains the extent to which the proposed ICT tool fits into the current UvA app/ICT landscape. How does your tool fit into this?

Sustainability of the ICT tool

• On a didactic level: the applicant explains to what extent the proposed ICT tool is sustainable, considering natural changes/developments within the didactic and pedagogical environment.
• On a technical level: the applicant explains how sustainable the ICT tool is, given technical changes within the UvA app/ICT landscape and in society. Is the ICT tool continuously maintained and developed? How does the growing role of AI affect this? What does the ICT tool cost in terms of money and services in relation to user numbers?

Quality of the project proposal

• The applicant convincingly demonstrates the feasibility of the grant project through a clear project proposal. This clearly defines the activities, methods, planning, budget and possible risks.

• Pre-application for the Grassroots+ grant runs from 25 April until 21 May 2024. Applicants with a promising proposal are invited by email to submit an application no later than 11 June 2024. As an applicant, you will be notified via email about the grant award around the end of June 2024. If you are awarded a Grassroots+ grant, you will start your Grassroots+ project in principle at the beginning of the 2024 – 2025 academic year.
• The Grassroots+ grant can be applied for annually.