Universiteit Leiden

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Comenius programme

The Comenius innovation programme for higher education and universities of applied science gives teachers the resources to implement their vision for education. Every year, the programme creates the conditions for a wide range of teaching innovations to flourish. The government’s aim with this programme is to demonstrate clearly its appreciation for excellence and enthusiasm in teaching.

Grants

Each grant sets different requirements regarding the principal applicant’s length of employment, position and experience. The criteria set for each type of grant are minimum requirements; there is no upper limit. For example, a lecturer with more than 10 years of teaching experience may still submit an application for the Teaching Fellow grant if that is the most appropriate grant for the scope of the project.

The Comenius Programme offers the following grants:

Teaching Fellows
The Comenius Teaching Fellow grant is primarily, but not exclusively, intended for educational innovators who are at the beginning of their careers.

  • You must have at least two years’ teaching experience in higher education and hold a position of at least 0.5 FTE.
  • The objective of your project must be to innovate within a single module or component of a programme.
  • Teaching Fellows receive € 50,000 for a project lasting between 12 and 18 months and become members of the Comenius Network.
  • There is no selection process. If this sounds like something for you, please contact the SAZ contact.

Senior Fellows
The Comenius Senior Fellow programme is intended for experienced innovators in education.

  • You must have at least five years’ teaching experience in higher education and hold a position of at least 0.5 FTE. You must also show ambition in the area of leadership, particularly pedagogical leadership, and/or in the development and study of education in your own discipline or field of study.
  • The objective of your project must be to innovate within your faculty or broader programme. Each faculty may submit a single proposal.
  • Senior Fellows receive €100,000 for a project with a duration of between 24 and 30 months and become members of the Comenius Network.
  • If this sounds like something for you, please contact your Faculty Board and the SAZ contact. The selection process is carried out within the faculty.

Leadership Fellows
This programme is intended for leading education innovators.

  • You must have at least seven years’ teaching experience in higher education and hold a position of at least 0.5 FTE, which includes a coordinating, and/or management function. Either in this position or through the composition of your team, you must also be able to implement the innovation across the entire scope of the proposed project.
  • The objective of your project must be to innovate within one or more faculties or within an institution. Each institution may submit a single proposal. Your application must be in keeping with the university’s vision on teaching and learning.
  • Leadership Fellows receive €500,000 for a project with a duration of between 36 and 42 months and become members of the Comenius Network.
  • The Vice-Rector is charged with selecting the proposal. If this sounds like something for you, please contact the SAZ contact.

More information & Proposal submission

Leiden University offers teachers help with writing their innovation proposals. We ask anyone who is considering applying to one of the programmes, to contact the grant advisor or a contact person at SAZ, in time. Recent results show that proposals that received guidance were more successful than those that were submitted without guidance. If you would like to find out more about the procedure or wish submit a proposal, please contact the Subsidy Adviser or the SAZ contact, as soon as possible.

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