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 on May 5, 2025.
BCcampus Research Fellowships have an 18-month term, and grants are up to $6000 CAD each. We will consider other amounts, depending on the project scope and needs. Previous BCcampus Research Fellows projects are highlighted on the website.
The BCcampus Research Fellows program is designed to achieve the following results:
- To support B.C. public post-secondary educators to conduct small-scale research on teaching and learning
- To support development and dissemination of evidence-based teaching practices that focus on student success and learning in B.C. post-secondary education
- To support B.C. public post-secondary educators to participate in scholarly work through conference attendance, research support, and dissemination of their work
Areas of Research Focus
- Learning and teaching design, strategies and practices (examples listed below)
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning
- New models for assessment
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL), inclusive learning design
- Experiential, studio-based, or place-based learning
- Emerging ed tech and practices, e.g. virtual or augmented reality
- Flexibility and choice in teaching and learning modalities
- Student and faculty well-being
- Open educational practices (OEP)
- Impact of OEP on teaching and learning in post-secondary education
- Adoption/adaption of OER and OEP
- Student access, accessibility and engagement
- Equity, diversity and inclusive practice in teaching and learning
- Trauma-informed practice in teaching and learning
- Inclusive educational technology
- 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 an instructor, staff, faculty member at a British Columbia or Yukon public post-secondary institution. Candidates who have been grant recipients in the previous 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 basis of the following:
- Relevance, clarity and specificity of the research project: We will review how applicants’ background and research interest relate to the pedagogical literature or discipline and the extent to which the goals of the Fellow Program are meaningfully reflected into the project.
- Potential impact of the research project on the student learning experience: We are interested in projects that ultimately seek to understand and improve student learning outcomes and experiences in B.C. post-secondary education. 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 or questions, and methodology within a reasonable timeframe and budget.
We aim to support research and collaboration across the B.C. post-secondary system; therefore, proposals that also include the following will be more strongly considered:
- Researchers and/or research sites located in Northern, rural, and remote regions of B.C.
- Collaborations between roles, departments, and institutions, researchers in equity-seeking groups and under-supported roles, including part-time and contract instructors
Appointment Terms
- Appointments will be 18 months, beginning September 30, 2025, with projects to be completed by March 30, 2027.
- Each Fellow/project team will receive grant funding to support the research project as outlined in the 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 pertinent post-secondary conference or event , e.g., Educational Technology Users Group (ETUG)
- Create two pieces related to their research to share publicly (e.g., blog post, infographic, short video, host a 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
Funding Use
- 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 honoraria, protocol, and gifts
- To pay open-access publishing fees
Important Dates
| Call opens | January 21, 2025 |
| Application deadline | May 5, 2025 |
| Adjudication of proposals | May 6–23, 2025 |
| Notifications to successful applicants and announcement of Fellows | Early June 2025 |
| BCcampus Fellows appointment starts (runs for 18 months) | September 30, 2025 |
| Group meetings (one per term) and Individual Check-ins as needed | September for welcome and Orientation |
| Presentation(s) by Fellows | To be determined, but usually BCcampus hosts events in spring and fall each year (e.g., ETUG, Symposium) |
| Final research reports due | March 30, 2027 |
How to Apply
Please complete the BCcampus Research Fellows Application and submit it by 11:59 p.m. PST on May 5 to LTproposals@bccampus.ca. Submissions will be confirmed by an email reply, and we will notify you of the results of your submission by early June.
Contact
If you have questions, please contact us.
EDI 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 that a more diverse team will help us better support the individuals and communities we work with. The BCcampus definitions of equity, diversity, and inclusion can be found on our website.