Overview

The Grants Scheme currently comprises three programs:

Changes for 2011

The first closing date for the 2011 Grants Scheme will be in April 2011. The second closing date will be in October 2011. There is no closing date in November 2010.

From 2011, the Competitive Grants and Priority Projects programs have been combined into a single program, Innovation and Development with a budget of $5.5 million.

Priorities will be confirmed in the 2011 Guidelines (which will be published in mid-September).

Most of the priority areas in Competitive Grants and Priority Projects are likely to be in the new program, with the exception of teaching and learning spaces.

The Leadership for Excellence in Learning and Teaching Program has been maintained with a grants budget in 2011 of $1.5 million. The Leadership Program will also feature a professional development program for senior academic staff, with funding of $500,000. The ALTC will offer this program in collaboration with other organisations in the sector.

There will be two closing dates only for applications to the Grants Scheme in 2011, April and October. Applications will be accepted for all priorities under both Programs on both dates.

Guidelines and closing dates will be released in September.

Principles

The following principles underpin the Grants scheme:

Compliance with the ALTC mission, objectives and values
Transparency
Value for money
High impact
Future looking

Eligibility

Institutions listed in Table A and Table B of the Higher Education Support Act (2003) and other approved higher education providers receiving places under the Commonwealth Grants Scheme are eligible to apply for ALTC grants. A full list can be found at: http://www.altc.edu.au/eligible-institutions

Reports

Reports on the operations of the Grants Scheme and initiatives funded:

Research Status of ALTC Funded Projects

The Australian Learning and Teaching Council administers grants under the Grants Scheme, Fellowship Scheme and other initiatives.

All programs are designed to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in higher education, to facilitate innovation and collaboration and to disseminate best practice. The grants administered under our programs are competitive, but they are not research grants and are not listed on the Australian Competitive Grants Register. This means that under present arrangements income from ALTC grants does not contribute to Category 1 income in determining an institution's Research Infrastructure Block Grant entitlement.

However, ALTC-funded projects, Fellowships and other initiatives may include a research component. In this case, a portion of the income derived may be eligible for inclusion in an institution’s Category 2 income or ‘other public sector research income’. Individual institutions determine the proportion of ALTC income, if any, that might meet the eligibility requirements for Category 2 income.

Discipline Studies and General Investigations

In 2006-2007 grants were awarded under the Discipline-Based Initiatives Program in the categories of Investigation and Scoping Initiatives, Common Curriculum Issues and Higher Education Enterprise Initiatives. Information about projects funded is available.