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Mini Research Project Scheme

The Write Now Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) is a collaboration between London Metropolitan, Liverpool Hope, and Aston Universities.  It aims to improve student achievement and enrich students’ learning experiences through the development of innovative, evidence-based provision focused on writing for assessment.  The Centre celebrates and promotes student writing in the disciplines, with the objective of enabling students to develop academic and disciplinary identities as empowered, confident writers.  A comprehensive programme of pedagogical research underpins and strengthens the ethos and practice of the Centre, including the key areas of development, evaluation, and dissemination. 

In order to support this research programme, CETL funds have been set aside to support annually a limited number of mini research projects which encourage pedagogic understandings of student writing, assessment and feedback, and which will benefit both students and staff at partner institutions and other collaborating HEIs. One of the key aspects of the research programme is to raise awareness of the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of pedagogic practices in relation to supporting student writing.

The Scheme is aimed primarily at staff in the main Write Now institutions, London Metropolitan and Liverpool Hope Universities. However, applications are welcome from staff at other UK HEIs as long as a collaborating staff member at either London Metropolitan, Liverpool Hope or Aston University is identified and included in the project bid.

Criteria for assessing mini research project proposals

  • Addresses a pedagogical issue which is relevant to the aims of  Write Now
  • Shows how the project is founded in an awareness of the current pedagogical literature
  • Shows evidence that the proposer has the appropriate experience to carry the project through to completion and deliver stated outcomes
  • Has clear objectives and a well developed research methodology for analysing and addressing the issue within the proposed timescale
  • Has a clear strategy for ensuring that the research findings will inform teaching and assessment policy and practice at the host institution
  • Includes a specific plan for  disseminating research outcomes to the wider academic community (examples include refereed conference papers and publications, links to existing networks)
  • Demonstrates how the project outcomes can be adapted by colleagues working in different contexts
  • Demonstrates the potential for future bids to outside organisations for further funding (e.g. HEA subject networks)

Expressions of interest

Colleagues are invited to contact either of the following for informal guidance and advice:

The bidding process

Colleagues are invited to submit proposals to fund a mini research project on writing, assessment or feedback as outlined above.  Email applications should be sent to Professor Norton at the above email address using the application form.

The proposals will be reviewed by a panel chaired by Professor Norton and consisting of CETL representatives from both London Metropolitan University and Liverpool Hope University and including the CETL External Evaluator, Professor James Elander, University of Derby.

We are now accepting proposals for funding of up to £3000 per project. The application deadline is Friday, 23rd May. Decisions and feedback will be provided to applicants by Tuesday, 10th June. For successful applicants, funding will be made available at the start of the 2008-09 academic year. Projects should be completed within the academic year.

Please note that the scheme has now been opened up to staff working in UK Higher Education institutions other than the main Write Now institutions (London Metropolitan University, Liverpool Hope University), on the condition that a collaborating staff member at either London Metropolitan, Liverpool Hope or Aston University is identified and included in the project proposal.

The application deadline is Friday, 23rd May.

Current mini research projects

Click here to view details of mini research projects.