Annual professional development bursary

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what it’s about

The BIG annual bursary is intended to provide financial assistance to enable members to pursue professional development opportunities that are in keeping with the mission and goals of the British Interactive Group. Up to £800 is offered per calendar year to cover travel, conference registration fees, materials and/or other expenses related to a professional development opportunity.

The aims of the BIG Bursary are to:

• support BIG members in professional development opportunities that they wouldn’t otherwise have access to
• disseminate relevant experience and best practice to the benefit of BIG members
• raise the profile and professionalism of interactive learning (in the UK and elsewhere)
• encourage enthusiasm and inspiration in both the recipient and the wider BIG membership

If your application is successful you will be expected to write an article for the BIG e-newsletter and give a presentation on your bursary-funded experience at the next BIG Event. To this purpose, the bursary recipient will receive free registration plus up to £150 towards travel and accommodation for the BIG Event at which they present a summary of their experience. These Event-related costs will be awarded in addition to the professional development expenses outlined above.

eligibility

To be eligible for a bursary you must be a current member of BIG at the time of application, as well as at the time the bursary is used. You will also need to provide a letter of reference from a senior professional in your field in support of your application.

The Selection Panel is willing to consider funding a wide variety of opportunities that are related to interactivity and hands-on learning. However, the bursary cannot be used to fund attendance at the BIG Event, BIG Skills Days (formerly known as BIG Regional Events), or any other BIG-organised activity. Additionally, any activity that may be considered as advertising or marketing is also ineligible. The proposal must be for an activity that will provide professional development, not profit.

timing

The closing date for applications is 30th September each year. Successful applicants will be notified before the end of November of the same year. The activity to which the bursary relates must occur after December 1st of the year of the award, and unless otherwise agreed it is assumed you will use the bursary within one calendar year. Payment will be made on submission of appropriate receipts.

selection process

Your application will be judged by the following criteria:

• Your ability to meet the specified aims of the bursary scheme (see previous page).
• The coherency of the proposed activity and its relevance to the applicant’s professional development.
• Value for money.

While each proposal will be assessed on its individual merits, the Panel will also attempt to ensure that there is a balance of backgrounds and disciplines represented amongst successful applicants (sciences, arts, history, etc).

Preference will be given to your application if you are not entirely dependent on BIG funding, and have ‘matched funding’ (either in cash or in kind) from other sources, such as an employer or other financial award.

The selection will be conducted by the Selection Panel, which will consist of a subcommittee drawn from the BIG Executive Committee. The members of the BIG Executive Committee are, of course, ineligible for the bursary, however BIG Skills Day organisers (formerly known as Regional Convenors) ARE eligible to apply.

In any given year up to £800 will be awarded to either a single applicant or otherwise distributed amongst a number of applicants at the discretion of the Selection Panel. The Panel reserves the right not to make any award if they feel that no application is suitable. The decision of the Selection Panel is final.

how to apply

The application form may be downloaded below:

BIG Bursary application form (PDF file to print and write on)

BIG Bursary application form (RTF file for word processing)

Right- (or Ctrl-) click and choose "Save target as..." to save these documents to your hard drive.

Send completed application forms via email to admin@big.uk.com by September 30th 2008.

Applications received after 5pm on 30th September 2008 cannot be accepted.

conditions

All bursaries are paid to the applicant in pounds Sterling; you will be expected to provide evidence of the bursary being spent as intended through production of receipts or equivalent.

The Bursary recipient will be expected to write an article for the BIG e-newsletter and give a presentation on their bursary-funded experience at the next BIG Event.

Successful applicants will be expected to acknowledge BIG’s financial support in any publications arising from the professional development opportunity.

The BIG executive reserves the right to terminate this scheme at any time, although if such a decision is made, all previously agreed payments will be honoured.