BILT Associates
Associate projects provide staff with the opportunity to work on specific projects defined by BILT and aligned to the University’s priorities. They offer the chance for staff to engage in educational research and in scholarship of learning and teaching. It is envisaged all the projects can result in peer-reviewed papers and/or conference presentations.
Interested parties can apply to lead a project or be part of a project team. Project teams will be allocated a budget and asked to develop a project plan which includes details on anticipated spend. Costs such as student research time and personal development e.g. conference registration, will be factored into each project’s budget.
Applicants can apply to one or more projects. Each project description includes details on the experience and skills required to undertake each project. Applicants should demonstrate how they meet these requirements in their submitted application. There is minimum time commitment required to take part in an Associate project. Applicants should state their availability in their application.
Joining an Associate Project is an opportunity to develop skills and experience which may contribute towards career development. Joining a project team means working with a range of colleagues within BILT and from across the University.
Project summaries for 2023-24
‘Designing for all’ - research, report and academic guidance
Team leads: Nicola Rooney (Bristol Veterinary School) and Sally Dowling (Bristol Medical School)
Team members: Bogdan Florea (Library Services), Christophe Fricker (Modern Languages), Craig Gunn (Psychological Science) and Julie Dickson (Bristol Veterinary School).
This project will undertake primary and secondary research into the student experience of assessment in terms of inclusivity. It will include the gathering of University of Bristol student feedback from a range of student groups and subjects, to be analysed and synthesised into a range of recommendations included in a report for senior management.
Following this report, the project team will create academic guidance outlining how best to implement recommendations across a programme and will include details on how to design inclusive oral presentations, examples and case studies.
Group assessment and academic guidance
Team lead: Daniela Dietrich (Biological Sciences)
This Associate Project will review current research, sector and University of Bristol practice to produce guidance outlining how best to implement group assessment. The guidance will draw on examples and cases studies.
AI and assessment – research, briefing paper and academic guidance
Team lead: Peter Peasey (Digital Education Office)
Team members: Kathryn Ford (Biological Sciences) and Tauheed Ali (Business School)
This Associate Project will explore secondary research to inform a briefing paper suitable for senior management outlining key risks, advantages and proposing recommendations for use of AI in assessment. The paper will then inform the creation of academic guidance outlining how best to approach and implement AI in assessment and will include examples and case studies.
International students’ experience – research, report and academic guidance
Team lead: Maxine Gillway (CALD) and Kevin Haines (CALD)
Team members: Catriona Johnson (CALD), Maggie Boswell (CALD), Maria Tsapali (Education), Susan Horseman (Bristol Veterinary School), Yunyan Li (Policy Studies)
This Associate Project will undertake primary and secondary research into the student experience. It will include the gathering of UoB international student views on programme-focused experiences and analysis and synthesis of this feedback into a range of recommendations suitable for senior management.
Following on from these recommendations, the team will explore current research, sector wide (including Russell Group) and University of Bristol practices and produce academic guidance which explores approaches to supporting international students through programme-focused initiatives, including case studies and examples.
Pedagogic research culture – research, report and academic guidance
Team lead: Sheena Warman (Bristol Veterinary School)
Team members: Freya Gowrley (History of Art/Liberal Arts), Maggie Boswell (CALD), Sarah Wood (Bristol Veterinary School), Sheila Amici-Dargan (Biological Sciences)
This project will conduct secondary and interview-based research to inform a report making recommendations on how to support collaborative research and individuals who are or want to engage in pedagogic research.
They will create academic guidance exploring: applying for ethics for staff and students undertaking pedagogical research; training materials for educational research approaches; signposting to funding opportunities; and links to all pedagogic research groups at the University. The guidance will be disseminated through pedagogic research groups and colleagues.
Research culture for teaching and learning projects – scoping paper for peer-reviewed discussion paper series
Team lead: Steven Proud (Economics)
Linked to university priorities, a University peer-reviewed discussion paper series has the potential to offer pedagogic researchers a quick and simple way to publish research relevant to university priorities. This paper will draw on best practice in the sector and recommend how this might work, in terms of incentives, practicalities and sustainability.
Application cycle and process
Applications for 2023-24 are now closed. Further details about the 2024-25 application process will be launched in Summer 2024.