Outward Mobility Fund
The Outward Mobility Fund (OMF) aims to provide Scottish students with support for new opportunities to study overseas by funding mobility projects (individual students to be described as Saltire Scholars).
About the OMF
The Outward Mobility Fund aims to provide Scottish students with support for further opportunities to study overseas by funding mobility for individual students.
Eligibility
The fund is open to all publically funded higher education institutions, colleges and student associations in Scotland.
We accept applications from single organisations and those submitted by two or more organisations working collaboratively. An institution or organisation may submit more than one bid; please use a new form for each project.
Applications must feature support for mobility to:
- Canada, China, India and the USA (any duration); and or
- Another European country (less than three months).
Recipient students must:
- Be considered as home students for fee purposes; and
- Not have previously participated in any periods of international study.
- Be undertaking undergraduate or postgraduate study.
Funding
A total of £130,000 will be available this year. There is no minimum or maximum amount for any single bid. There is no minimum duration. The funding will be awarded on a match funded basis. This means that if a project will cost £10,000 in total, the organisation should cover the £5,000 and your application should be for the remaining £5,000.
Staff only mobility projects are not eligible for funding. Additionally, Scottish Government funding cannot be used to cover accompanying staff salary costs; this should be financed through institutional match funding.
Note: If your project is successful the information contained in your bid will form the basis for any grant offer. It is therefore important that your proposals are realistic and achievable within the timescale and budget outlined.
Timing
- Mobility to be undertaken during academic year 2015/16.
- Funding must be claimed by 31 March 2016.
- Final project reports must be submitted by 31 October 2016.
Criteria
Applications will be judged against the criteria listed below. Maximum marks available for each criterion are in brackets.
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Description of project activities and delivering the key aims of the fund (25)
A strong bid will:
- Demonstrate how it will deliver the key aims of the fund;
- Describe outcomes and benefits to be delivered for learners involved in the project including academic, cultural, linguistic, social etc
- Describe outcomes and benefits to be delivered for the sector(s);
- Describe in detail project activities and show how they are tailored to deliver these benefits; and
- Demonstrate that key risks have been identified with mitigations in place.
A strong bid will:
- Show evidence of the involvement of a range of partners;
- Detail the role of these partners in the proposed activity; and
- Show commitment to work together across the sector(s) following the period of the funding.
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Evidence of ability to deliver (10)
A strong bid will:
- Show how the proposed activities can be achieved within the timescales and budgets proposed; and
- Show evidence that the bidder(s) have access to appropriate skills and experience to deliver the proposed activities on time and to budget.
Note: OMF cannot be used to cover staff costs - this should be financed through institutional match funding. A strong bid will:
- Show in detail the eligible costs for each activity to be funded by OMF;
- Show evidence that the proposed activity is additional to existing opportunities and arrangements (it must not replicate existing activity);
- Demonstrate how any OMF award will be match funded, via financial and/or in-kind contributions from partners (spelling out who will pay what, if a joint bid; and
- Demonstrate savings made through improvements to previous or existing practices.
A strong bid will:
- Show how the project offers opportunities to the full spectrum of students, including those who may find it more difficult to study abroad, for example: students from disadvantaged backgrounds; students with caring responsibilities, students with disabilities, and others
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Recognition of Learning (10)
A strong bid will:
- Demonstrate commitment to learning outcome recognition by showing how recognition will be recorded; and,
- Where appropriate detail the award of credits or the recognition of learning outcomes attained via the Higher Education Achievement Report, Diploma Supplement or similar document.
A strong bid will:
- Provide a strategy to ensure that the proposed activities can be sustained beyond the period of external funding; and
- Consider the scope for synergies and impact on relationships with existing bodies; and
Include commitments of longer term funding or involvement.