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Education Enhancement Fund

The Education Enhancement Fund is designed to promote the development of new or innovative approaches to learning and teaching and to enable their dissemination across the University.

NEW: A vision for education and skills at Newcastle University: Education for Life 2030+

About the fund

The Education Enhancement Fund (previously the Education Development Fund) provides grants to support the development of new approaches to learning and teaching, and to enable their dissemination across the University. Chaired by the PVC Education, the fund offers a fantastic opportunity to propose and deliver projects with real benefit to student education.

The fund has two strands:
Strand A Projects:Strand B Projects:

Applications up to £2500. Strand A projects can be specifically focussed within an individual academic unit, or across multiple areas as appropriate to the project.

Applications up to £10,000. Strand B projects must involve collaboration across academic units and/or services and have potential benefits that are applicable beyond a single school or academic unit.

Application deadlines for 2023-24

The deadlines for applications are:

  • Semester 1 - Monday 20 November 2023 at 12 noon (UK time)
  • Semester 2 - Monday 11 March 2024 at 12 noon (UK time)

Completed applications must be emailed to educationdevfund@newcastle.ac.uk by the deadline. Applicants are advised to fully familiarise themselves with the guidance notes below before applying.


Past fund recipients

2022-23 awards:2021-22 awards:2020-21 awards:
  • 6 strand A projects
  • 1 strand B project
  • 10 strand A projects
  • 2 strand B projects
  • 9 strand A projects
  • 2 strand B projects
2019-20 awards:2018-19 awards:2017-18 awards: 
  • 4 strand A projects
  • 3 strand B projects
  • 9 strand A projects
  • 1 strand B projects
  • 8 strand A projects
  • 3 strand B projects
2022-23 Awards

Strand A Projects

  • Dr Gabriel Martinez Vera & Professor Michelle Sheehan: Linguistics and multilingualism training course for sixth formers
  • Dr Deb Dulson: Co-creating a learning community to enhance the student experience
  • Dr Daniel Duncan: Piloting and Evaluating Video Game Streaming for Technology Enhanced Learning
  • Dr Scott Walker: The AI Effect: Evaluating the Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Educational Resources
  • Professor Debbie Bevitt: Enhancing engagement with science writing skills support for undergraduate science students
  • Gigi Herbert: You can lead a horse to...: Investigating why CSPY Placement Year students do and do not engage with module-based PDP (Personal Development Plan) and Career Learning

Strand B Projects

  • Dr Heather Moore: Supporting autistic students through the personal tutoring system
2021-22 Awards

Strand A Projects

  • Kayleigh Scotcher & Emily Green: Case based curriculum: A holistic understanding of the human body across campuses
  • Dr Melissa Fothergill & Dr Tracy Donachie: Flying High: MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology Students Supporting Newcastle Falcons Academy Rugby Players
  • Anna Robinson: Decolonising our pharmacy education: a co-design study with students to integrate cultural competency in the curriculum
  • Emma Robinson: Virtual Dental Elective Exchange, #dentalpenpal
  • Sara Bird: Bridging the Gap: Transition Research Skills
  • Vicky Kapogianni & Salvatore Fasciana: Beyond Conventional Educational Environments: Videogamising International Law
  • Hanno Kossen: Evaluation of Digital Tools to Support Laboratory-Based Learning
  • Alina Schartner: Intercultural orientation workshops for students on the MA Cross-Cultural Communication+ programmes
  • James Stanfield: Investigating digital skills and capabilities of undergraduate students
  • Alison Williams: Co-creating transferable skills development opportunities for Social Science PhD students

Strand B Projects

  • Irene Brown & Dr Christian Mieves: The role of Extra Curricular Activities (ECAs) in creating a sense of belonging and a meaningful learning environment
  • Stacy Gillis & Chloe Ashbridge: Student Voice, Student Choice: EDI, the Hidden Curriculum & Making the Transition to University
2020-21 Awards

Strand A Projects

  • Co-Development of Cultural Competency in the School of Dental Sciences and Evaluation of Impact by a Cohort Study, Dr Paula Jane Waterhouse, Dr Luisa Wakeling, Mrs Zoe Freeman, Mr Andrew Carr, Mrs Jill Lloyd, Miss Nicole Akuffo, Mr Sohum Pandya, Miss Malaika Ahmed, School of Dental Sciences
  • Creating the right culture for future pharmacists: A cultural competency framework for the pharmacy programme, Wing Man Lau, Andy Husband, Pharmacy
  • Evaluation of the respective benefits of face to face and the current Covid-implemented online researcher development activities to develop and sustain the best good practice in a blended delivery format, Dr Gail de Blaquiere, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering
  • Older adults in the sociolinguistics classroom: changing ageist attitudes through intergenerational learning, Heike Pichler, School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics
  • Evaluating the Feasibility of, and exploring opportunities for, embedding transnational cross-campus teaching in the MBBS curriculum, Paul Hubbard Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia, Dr Andrew Chaytor, Wei Jan, Ned Tilling, School of Medical Education
  • Decolonising the curriculum through module reviews and guidance, Hannah Davis, Simon Edwards, Beth Clark, Yassir Malik, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • Academic skills – bridging the transition gap for stage 2 direct entry students, Dr Robert Anderson, Dr Barbara Eberth, Dr Susan Addison, Dr Grega Smrkolj Newcastle University Business School, Liam Carson Academic Services, Liv Jonassen and team, Robinson Library
  • Co-designed Reflective Practices in Museum, Gallery and Heritage Studies (working title), Areti Graham, Gayle Meikle, School of Arts and Cultures/Media, Culture, Heritage
  • Student designed programme to support wellbeing and community membership, Elaine Tan, Ana Bogdanovic Newcastle University Business School

Strand B Projects

  • Does a life sciences student’s demographic background correlate with their access to careers and developmental opportunities and therefore their academic achievement as well as graduate destinations?, Dr Vanessa Armstrong, Dr Damian Parry Sciences, Dr Beth Lawry School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences, Dr Sara Marsham and Dr Lee Higham School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Dr Jessica Jung and Kate Rothery Careers Service, Professor Alison Shaw (Professor of Practice for Student Success and Progression, Inclusive Newcastle), Student interns (6) for across NU and disciplines (TBC)
  • Sanctuary Studio: Immersive Stories towards Welcome, Dr Jen Bagelman, Professor Peter Hopkins, Professor Rachel Pain, Dr Caleb Johnston, Dr Lewis Turner School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Dr Rachel Clarke School of Computing, Dr Tim Shaw School of Arts and Culture, Richard Crulley Marketing
2019-20 Awards

Strand A Projects

  • Online Quiz for Testing Dispensing Knowledge – Ken Pierce, Mark Ashton, Hamde Nazar, Jennifer Warrender, School of Computing
  • Cabinet: A student-led exhibitions programme – Gayle Meikle, Philip Deans, School of Arts and Culture
  • Alternative capstone projects: exploring assumptions, motivations & expectations of students, educators & prospective employers – Susan Addison, Angela Mazzett, Stefanie Reissner, Newcastle University Business School
  • Connection with Purpose: developing a community practice for part-time research students – Rosalind Beaumont HASS Faculty

Strand B Projects

  • Making a Start! – Developing a student-led makerspace in the Stephenson building, Stephanie Glendinning, Stuart Edwards, Graeme Watson, Peter Gosling, Dan Brooking-Coker Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, Sean Mallen School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, James Davoll, Stephen Rowarth School of Arts and Culture
  • Supporting students in Research Software Sustainability and Open Research – Mark Turner, Digital Institute, Dr Chris Emmerson, Dr Matt Forshaw, Graham Collins, Dr Sarah Whalley
  • Virtual Experimentation for Education in Life Sciences and Design of Experiments – Dr Harold Fellermann, Dr Thomas Howard, Dr Jem Stach, Dr Dennis Lendrem, Dr Benjamin Shirt-Ediss, Mr Matthew Linsley
2018-19 Awards

Strand A Projects

  • Recording and use of education videos as a student-centred approach to enhancement of good laboratory practice in practical chemistry courses – Dr Cristina Navarro, Dr Zuleykha McMillian, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • Careers timeline for Biomedical Sciences Undergraduates – Dr Vanessa Armstrong and Dr Beth Lawry, School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Sciences
  • Student-led teaching: enhancing participation and communication skills among undergraduate law students – Dr Hélène Tyrell, Newcastle Law School
  • “Manging-up”: Enhancing placement and graduate employment preparedness – Dr Helen Mason, School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Sciences
  • It's not just about the science –attribute development and recognition via final year dissertations - Dr Simon Wilkinson, Dr Catherine Méplan and Dr Vanessa Armstrong, School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Sciences
  • Validation by dental students of the alignment of our Educational Strategy to their learning experience – Luisa Wakeling and Janice Ellis, School of Dental Sciences
  • Enhancing laboratory skills and confidence in physics labs – Dr Angela Dyson, School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
  • Digitalisation of Logbook for Capstone Project using Microsoft Teams – Dr Eugene Wong, Newcastle University International Singapore
  • Enhancing part-time researcher training and development provision in HaSS/ SAgE – Rosalind Beaumont, HASS Faculty and Gail de Blaquiere SAgE Faculty

Strand B Projects

2017-18 Awards

Strand A Projects

Strand B Projects

2016-17 Awards

Strand A Projects

Strand B Projects