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Project Development Fund

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The Project Development Fund (PDF) has been established by the UK Centre for Legal Education for the following purposes:

  • to promote innovation and the dissemination of good practice in learning and teaching in law
  • to encourage research and projects in the field of legal education
  • to involve law students and their representative bodies in the promotion of teaching and learning
  • to develop methods for the evaluation of effective learning and teaching
  • to enable the consideration of regional differences in the learning and teaching of law
  • to deliver direct benefit (for example by the provision of materials, conclusions, experience) to law teachers
  • to encourage a climate of innovation and inquiry among law teachers in their approach to learning and teaching

In pursuit of these aims, funds may be used for the following purposes:

  • buying out teaching or other identifiable elements of working time to release the applicant(s) to work on the project
  • employment of research assistants, students or other project workers, clerical support
  • travel (within the UK )
  • materials and equipment
  • other learning resources
  • other purposes approved by the UKCLE

Project proposals should:

  • contribute to the development and understanding of learning, teaching and assessment practices as indicated above
  • show an appreciation of ethical conduct and not discriminate against any individual or group
  • show an appreciation of existing research findings in the area and articulate how the proposed project develops ideas
  • describe how the work is to be carried out and the research methodologies to be used
  • present clear outcomes/deliverables (for example a report or questionnaire or learning tool that will contribute to an understanding of learning and teaching issues in law)
  • set out a strategy for dissemination of the outcomes of the project
  • demonstrate that project outcomes can be replicated generally in the discipline, rather than be specific to a particular institution
  • set out a realistic timetable for completion
  • set out a realistic budget plan for the research

Additional notes:

Projects will be expected to provide regular updates and release of funds will be determined by satisfactory progress. A member of staff at UKCLE or a UKCLE Associate will be nominated as a main point of contact for ongoing support and advice. All projects will be required to submit a final project report, which will be published by UKCLE to enable dissemination of the project’s processes and outcomes for the benefit of the wider legal education community.

Last Modified: 4 June 2010