Status: closed
We invite research proposals from B.C. public post-secondary educators who are committed to exploring and improving student learning and eager to conduct and share research with others.
This call for proposals closes November 7, 2023.
BCcampus Research Fellowships have an 18-month term, and grants are up to $6,000 CAD each. We will consider other amounts, depending on the project scope and needs. Here are some examples of BCcampus Research Fellows projects.
The BCcampus Research Fellows program is designed to achieve the following results:
- Support B.C. public post-secondary educators to conduct small-scale research on teaching and learning.
- Support development and dissemination of evidence-based teaching practices that focus on student success and learning in B.C. post-secondary education.
- Support B.C. public post-secondary educators to participate in scholarly work through conference attendance, research support, and dissemination of their work.
Current Areas of Research Focus
The BCcampus Research Fellows program includes, but is not limited to, the following areas of research:
- Learning and teaching design, strategies, and practices
- Universal Design for Learning, inclusive learning design
- Team-based learning
- Experiential learning
- Studio-based learning
- Emerging educational technology and practices
- Open educational practices
- Adoption/adaption of open educational resources and practices
- Impact of open educational practices on teaching and learning in post-secondary education
- Student access, accessibility, and engagement
- Inclusive educational technology
- Equity, diversity, and inclusion in teaching and learning
- Trauma-informed practice in teaching and learning
- Indigenous research and practices
- Research that practices reciprocity and engages with Indigenous communities
A combination of two or more areas of focus is strongly encouraged.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must be instructors, staff, or a faculty member at a B.C. public post-secondary institution or Yukon University. Candidates who have been BCcampus grant recipients in the past two years are not eligible.
Proposals should address one or more of the areas of research focus listed above. Proposals will be reviewed by an adjudication committee that will evaluate on the following basis:
- Relevance, clarity, and specificity of the research project: We will review how applicants’ background and research interests relate to the pedagogical literature or discipline and the extent to which the goals of the BCcampus Research Fellows program are meaningfully reflected in the project.
- Potential impact of the research project on student learning experiences: We are interested in projects that seek to understand and improve student learning outcomes and experiences in B.C. post-secondary institutions. There are many potential pathways, but this should be a clear goal of all projects.
- Feasibility and sustainability of the research project: There is a clear research problem, focus, and methodology with a reasonable time frame and budget.
We aim to support research and collaboration across the B.C. post-secondary system. Proposals that include the following considerations will be strongly considered:
- Researchers and/or research sites in Northern, rural, and remote regions of B.C.
- Collaborations between roles, departments, institutions, and researchers in equity-deserving groups and under-supported roles, including part-time and contract instructors
Appointment Terms
- Appointments are 18 months, beginning January 2024, with projects to be completed by June 30, 2025.
- Each research fellow will receive a grant to support the research project as outlined in their proposal.
- Wherever possible, materials created as part of this project will be shared under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (CC BY).
Fellows will:
- Conduct research according to an approved research plan, outlined in the application form.
- Present their research from this project at one or more BCcampus-organized events or at a pertinent post-secondary conference or event (e.g., Educational Technology Users Group).
- Create two pieces of content related to their research to share publicly (e.g., blog post, infographic, short video, webinar).
- Attend periodic research fellow check-ins or meetings with BCcampus.
- Publish the results of the research in an open format on the BCcampus website and optionally in a suitable academic journal (preferably open access) in a relevant discipline.
- Acknowledge BCcampus as a funder for the research in all papers, publications, and presentations.
How Funding Should Be Used
- To provide technical, pedagogical, and/or research support for the project (e.g., data collection, transcription)
- To cover travel, accommodation, and other expenses related to research activities and/or presenting at a minimum of one BCcampus-sponsored event
- To provide honouraria, protocol, and gifts
- To pay open-access publishing fees
Important Dates
| Call opens | June 2023 |
| Application deadline | November 7, 2023 |
| Adjudication of proposals | November 8–17, 2023 |
| Notifications to successful applicants | November 20, 2023 |
| Research fellows appointments starts (runs for 18 months) | January 2024 |
| Midpoint check-in | By September 30, 2024 |
| Presentations by research fellows | To be determined, but usually BCcampus hosts events in spring and fall each year (e.g., ETUG, symposium) |
| Final research reports due | By mid-June 2025 |
How to Apply
Please complete the BCcampus Research Fellows Application and submit it to LTproposals@bccampus.ca by 11:59 p.m. PST on November 7, 2023. Submissions will be confirmed by an email reply. We will notify you of the results by early December 2023.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement
BCcampus is committed to inclusion. From the workplace to our learning spaces, we value diversity and are actively working to decolonize our organization and the ways in which we collaborate with others. We believe a more diverse team will help us better support the individuals and communities we work with.
We encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including but not limited to:
- First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all other Indigenous Peoples.
- Members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin.
- Persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities.
- Persons who identify as women.
- Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.
We recognize many of these identities intersect, and therefore equity, diversity, and inclusion can be complex. We value the contributions each person brings and are committed to ensuring full and equal participation for all in our community.
Contact Us
If you have questions, please email LTproposals@bccampus.ca.