4 February 2009
[Address]
Re: Support for a project proposal to the ‘Subject Strand’ of the HEFCE/Academy/JISC Circular 14/08 Open Educational Resources Programme
Dear ,
I am writing to request your organisation's support for a proposal to the Subject Strand of the HEFCE/Academy/JISC Circular 14/08 Open Educational Resources Programme call for projects (http://www.jisc.ac.uk/fundingopportunities/funding_calls/2008/12/grant1408.aspx).
The goal of the programme is to make a wide range of learning resources freely available and easily discoverable so that they may be routinely re-used by both educators and learners. A very short summary of this call for pilot projects is attached (MEDEV_OER_Call_2008.doc). All UK institutions are eligible under the Subject Strand. Full documentation is available from the link above. HE institutions are entitled to lead on up to one 'institutional' and one 'individual' project, and partner in as many bids led by others as they wish. You may be interested to enquire locally if your institution is bidding under one of these strands.
The Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine (MEDEV) is eligible to coordinate a response to the call under the 'Subject Strand' (projects up to 250K each; 3M available overall). From initial soundings with members of our constituency we think that there is enough interest that we will submit a proposal. As these are pilot projects the content of this proposal should be fairly straightforward but we would, of course, greatly appreciate feedback/input to the bid. It is planned to engage with professional bodies, subject associations and other relevant organisations as part of the proposal. We also hope to work with Health Sciences and Practice Subject Centre (assuming we are successful). The closing date is 4 March 2009.
There are two main issues with this call. Firstly, participants contributing content have to make it freely available for use and re-use. Secondly the funding is only 50% of the total cost, the balance coming from 'matched funding'. If you feel that this call is not for you then we anticipate that there will be opportunities in the future to join/participate if this pilot is successful. We expect that ‘partnership’ will be at two levels - those who are directly commissioned by the project to undertake aspects of the work in this pilot (a 'core team'), and a wider group interested in sharing educational resources.
MEDEV is hosting a meeting 11:00-15:00 Monday 16 February 2009 to which you are welcome to send a representative or video-conference into if you have JVCS VC facilities (there will be VC points in at least Newcastle and London), where we will discuss the draft proposal and issues, and possibly allocate roles in the project to partners.
If you wish to be named as a partner at this pilot stage then we will need a contact name (job title and email address) for your institution, and a letter of support, please. If you wish to acknowledge the proposal but not to engage with it then we would still greatly appreciate a letter. We would also be delighted to hear of any institutional or individual project proposals involving our constituency whom we might reference in our response.
For your information and convenience I have attached here three SAMPLE letters of support, one indicating that you wish to partner/support the proposal, one acknowledging the proposal but not entering as a partner at this stage, the final letter acknowledging the proposal (but not offering support). I would appreciate it, if you wish to respond, you could adapt/print which ever letter is most appropriate onto your letter head paper, sign and fax to 0191 2225016 or email a PDF version to enquiries@medev.ac.uk by Sunday 1 March 2009.
A webpage has been set up at http://www.medev.ac.uk/oer/ on which further information will be posted. We will also liaise directly with named contacts. If you wish to discuss this call for projects then please do not hesitate to contact either Suzanne Hardy (suzanne@medev.ac.uk) or I (megan@medev.ac.uk) on 0191 2225888.
With many thanks for your consideration of this request.
With kindest regards,
Dr Megan Quentin-Baxter
Director, MEDEV, Newcastle University
February 2008
Dr Megan Quentin-Baxter
Higher Education
Academy Subject Centre MEDEV
School of Medical Sciences Education
Development
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE24HH
Telephone: 0191 2225888
Fax: 0191
2225016
megan@medev.ac.uk
Re: Support for a project proposal to the ‘Subject Strand’ of the HEFCE/Academy/JISC Circular 14/08 Open Educational Resources Programme
Dear Megan,
Thank you for alerting our organisation to the development of a proposal in response to the HEFCE/Academy/JISC Circular 14/08 Open Educational Resources Programme call for projects.
We would be delighted to be named as a partner in this proposal, and I confirm that our contact is <NAME>, <JOB TITLE> (<EMAIL ADDRESS>).
This is an important area for education research and development, and we wish to register our full support to the development of this project. We wish the authors every success and await with interest news of the outcome of the bidding process.
Yours sincerely,
February 2008
Dr Megan Quentin-Baxter
Higher Education
Academy Subject Centre MEDEV
School of Medical Sciences Education
Development
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE24HH
Telephone: 0191 2225888
Fax: 0191
2225016
megan@medev.ac.uk
Re: Support for a project proposal to the ‘Subject Strand’ of the HEFCE/Academy/JISC Circular 14/08 Open Educational Resources Programme
Dear Megan,
Thank you for alerting our organisation to the development of a proposal in response to the HEFCE/Academy/JISC Circular 14/08 Open Educational Resources Programme call for projects.
This is an important area for education research and development, and we wish to register our support to the development of this project, although we do not wish to be named as a partner. Please keep us informed of the outcome of the bidding process and updates from time to time.
Yours sincerely,
February 2008
Dr Megan Quentin-Baxter
Higher Education
Academy Subject Centre MEDEV
School of Medical Sciences Education
Development
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE24HH
Telephone: 0191 2225888
Fax: 0191
2225016
megan@medev.ac.uk
Re: Support for a project proposal to the ‘Subject Strand’ of the HEFCE/Academy/JISC Circular 14/08 Open Educational Resources Programme
Dear Megan,
Thank you for alerting our organisation to the development of a proposal in response to the HEFCE/Academy/JISC Circular 14/08 Open Educational Resources Programme call for projects.
Unfortunately our organisation is constitutionally unable to align with specific activities, or support individual proposals, however we are interested in this area of development.
We <would/would not> be interested in receiving progress updates, should you be successful in attracting funding.
Yours sincerely,