Teaching Innovation Fund (TIF) The Teaching Innovation Fund (TIF) exists to support staff to become more innovative in their teaching, engage in research in teaching and learning, and contribute to teaching and learning in higher education. This initiative is aligned with the University’s strategic goals to support the development of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) through the provision of funding and expertise. The field of SoTL provides academic staff with the opportunity to reflect on and conduct research on how their teaching practice can become more responsive to the changing needs of students and in society. In February 2023, a call was issued for faculties and departments to submit project proposals to be considered for the Teaching Innovation fund. The response to this call was remarkable, with a total of 61 proposals submitted for consideration. A total of 21 projects, were supported in 2023. Notably, these funded projects span multiple faculties, demonstrating a diverse range of educational innovation efforts. It is important to note that due to budget constraints, the allocation for each project was capped at a maximum of R50,000. Under the leadership of Professor Khan, DVC: Academic, the Division for Teaching Excellence (DTE) released its third publication, showcasing these teaching and learning innovations titles. It is important to note that the third Teaching Innovation for the 21st Century: Showcasing UJs Teaching Innovation Projects 2022 has been published. The 3rd edition of Teaching Innovation for the 21st Century presents vignettes of innovative practices across various disciplines, projects and activities funded through the UJ Teaching Innovation Fund 2022. The continual support from the University Research Committee in funding allocations is crucial to enable academics to revitalise pedagogies and practices. Over the past three years, there has been a compelling demand for us to reflect and reevaluate our teaching and learning methodologies. This imperative arises from our commitment to enriching and enhancing the education of our students. The establishment of an innovative teaching culture within higher education is not just conducive but imperative to realising UJ’s vision and mission. Across UJ, most faculties and academic departments have diligently worked towards elevating teaching and learning standards by embracing and implementing hybrid-flexible teaching and learning methodologies. This commitment is exemplified by the projects submitted for consideration in 2023, which strongly align with the University’s advocacy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The 2023 Teaching Innovation Fund (TIF) proposals were designed to address various innovative aspects of teaching, learning, assessment, curriculum development, and delivery. They underscore our unwavering dedication to consistently improving the quality of education provision at UJ. For comprehensive details on each project and progress reports since the release of funds, please consult Table 2. Furthermore, it is worth noting that the Teaching Innovation Fund plays a pivotal role in providing financial support to academics, fostering innovation in teaching, and promoting the development of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Since 2020, the Division of Teaching Excellence (DTE) has been instrumental in creating opportunities for these educational innovators to share their experiences through the Master Class Series, which reaches across the entire University. 2023 ANNUAL REPORT DIVISION FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE 45
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