The First and Further Year Experience (FFYE) program represents a sustained institution-wide approach to building an engaged academic and professional community that works together to enhance the student experience. This practice builds on annual grants that provide resourcing for academics to try new learning and teaching activities, which they evaluate and embed to create sustainable practice change. Many grant holders present their evidence at the FFYE forums, inspiring others to make positive changes in their practice.
Subject coordinators of core (non-elective) subjects are now invited to apply for 2023 FFYE grants.
Transition pedagogy
FFYE grants need to incorporate at least one of the six First-year Curriculum Principles:
The Student Experience Framework
In 2023, the focus of the FFYE grant program is on how to enhance the student experience of learning and personal success, through intentionally designed curriculum practices aligned to a new Student Experience Framework that was recently introduced by Professor Kylie Readman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students). This framework provides a way to foster and support distributed leadership of student experience – where the nature and quality of students’ experience at University is everyone’s responsibility, including the students themselves.
This framework recognises that all aspects of the student journey matter, from critical first encounters to graduation and the transition to becoming UTS Alumni. It places student success at the centre, focusing on both academic and personal success, framed by four intersecting themes – Engagement, Belonging, Wellbeing and Partnerships/Relationships (particularly student partnerships).
Your FFYE grant will need to be validated against at least one of this framework’s four themes. For more information on the themes of this framework, see this section of the FFYE Grant Program SharePoint site.
Other requirements
Additionally, your grant should show:
- Statement of the core subject the project relates to and the course
- Demonstration of a programmatic approach (whole of course) to enhance students’ success
- Potential impact for enhancing success and retention for all students, particularly students from diverse backgrounds
- Capacity of the project team to deliver proposed outcomes within the timeframe
- Capacity for outcomes to become embedded and sustained without ongoing funding
- Quality and coherence of the project application, including: clarity of description of the project; clear alignment of the project with transition pedagogy; and coherence between the project aims, activities and budget
How to apply
- Download a copy of the Application template
- Ensure that the file has been signed.
- Save your application using following naming convention: Surname of Project Lead_Faculty (eg Jones_DAB.docx; Smith_FASS.docx)
- Send your completed application to IML_OPS@uts.edu.au and cc in Kathy.Egea@uts.edu.au (FFYE Program Coordinator) by 8 May 2023
Further information
For full details on the application process, including key dates and previous FFYE grants, explore the FFYE grants site.