Want to try something new in your teaching? If so, why not apply for a TESSA – our new Teaching Enhancement Small Support Awards?

TESSAs, introduced last term, are intended for Kent colleagues who are interested in encouraging and enabling teaching and learning innovation; or who have a great idea that would improve the quality of teaching, teaching-related activity, support for teaching, or the student learning experience at Kent.

We already have University Teaching Prizes, which reward colleagues on their achievements. But sometimes what’s needed is a bit of funding to try something new, or test out an idea or a different way of working – and now you can apply for a TESSA to do just that.

We’re piloting this small grants scheme during 2017/18. You can apply for funding of between £500 and £3,000, with up to £5,000 on offer for large, high-impact, collaborative projects across the University. All colleagues who contribute to teaching, learning or teaching support are eligible to apply – you don’t have to be an academic, or based in a school.

In our first round, we were delighted to be able to fund 11 high-quality applications from all around the University, and we are now all set for Round 2. The deadline for applications has just been extended to 12 noon on Thursday 17 May 2018, for projects starting during summer 2017/18 or Autumn Term 2018/19. Successful applications will be announced by Monday 4 June.

Find out more, and download the short application form for a TESSA, on our Teaching webpages. You’ll see that previous applicants have been generous in allowing us to publish their forms, so you may be able to link up with someone doing a project similar to the one you are planning.

If you have questions, please get in touch with April McMahon or Jess Sutherland.