Pitch 2024 Guidelines

Innovation in education masterclass on 20 June (optional but recommended)

This masterclass is designed to help individuals and teams develop ideas for educational innovation, and to receive feedback. You are strongly recommended to use this opportunity to prepare for formal submission to the Pre-Pitch Panel. All attendees of this masterclass should come prepared to actively engage in small group and/or individual tasks. Register to attend the Innovation in education masterclass.

The Pitch 2024 information session recording and presentation slides

Revisit the information session led by A/Prof Tim Fawns. Gain important information on the application process, the Pitch event, how funding will be distributed among winning teams. The recording and slides also include presentations from our previous winners.

Application requirements for the Pre-Pitch panel

This application consists of a recorded video presentation plus an appendix with additional supporting text.

8-minute video

The purpose of the video is to allow for a more engaging application so consider how you can use this format to your greatest advantage. Try to hook the selection panel in with an interesting and promising idea. Remember that the purpose is to make your idea clear to the selection panel. Your application will be judged on the persuasiveness of the proposal rather than aesthetic appeal. The video should cover the following:

• Key idea, including what will be done or created and how it is new.
• Rationale: why is this needed, what problem is it solving and why is your team the best team to be supported to undertake this? In your rationale, you might reference educational theory and convey your education values as well explaining the practical need.
• Anticipated outcomes: what changes do you think will come about because of this innovation, where will these changes reach and what shareable objects, workshops or resources will be produced to support this reach?
• Potential risks and foreseeable challenges.

The video can be recorded in the following accessible formats: .MP4; .MOV; .WMV; .AVI. There is no pre-set structure (e.g. you do not have to use slides) and the technical quality of the video will not be judged.

2-page appendix

The two-paged (A4) appendix gives you an opportunity to provide additional details and to demonstrate that you have thought through the practical aspects of your proposal.

Please include in a single PDF or MS Word document, the following:

• Project Title
• Information about team, including team lead and the contribution each member will make
• Synopsis of your project (150 - 200 words)
• A timeline for different phases of the project
• A proposed budget (how much money will you need and what will you spend it on)

In your budget, show expenditure under specified line items. The budget should be appropriately costed, and should not include standalone equipment purchases (i.e. purchases should not add to the shared Faculty pool of equipment) nor clash with any existing Faculty funding commitments. Any software or online elements should be discussed with the Educational Technology team prior to submitting the proposal.

Please also upload a Team photo as a separate JPEG or PNG file (if your team is selected as a finalist to pitch at the event, this photo will be used alongside your synopsis on a flyer which will be distributed to the audience).

Submissions of applications

Applications are submitted online via the The Pitch moodle site. Please ensure you submit both the video file and appendix. Please note you will need to self enrol  to gain access to the moodle site.

Makeup of teams

• All proposals must involve collaboration between at least two Faculties.
• The project must involve teams within Monash. Projects involving external partners are not eligible to apply.
• The application process is open to all Monash staff (academic and professional). However, a staff member cannot be included in more than one application.
• Team members need to have no real or apparent conflict of interest related to the grant opportunity that could be considered by a reasonable person to potentially affect their selection or role in the grant project, for example, family relationships. Team members should not personally financially benefit from the project.
• Staff on fixed term contracts and sessional staff are eligible to be applicants if their employment extends for the entire duration of the grant period.

Criteria

At the application stage, the Pre Pitch panel wants to be sure that your proposal is sufficiently formed and sufficiently convincing that they will be able to make a considered decision about funding at The Pitch event.

Part of this initiative is to produce ways of sharing ideas. Factoring in tangible learning objects and other plans for disseminating outcomes and design methods will add value to your application.

Alongside the guidelines listed above, the following criteria will guide the selection panels in deciding which teams to invite to The Pitch (and, therefore, allocate some amount of funding).

Essential Criteria 

• Projects must outline the problem their innovation is addressing and the value it will generate.
• Projects have a clear plan that shows ongoing or extended implementation in the post Pitch funding period (able to continue effectively beyond the 12-month period of funding).
• Projects demonstrate alignment with strategic priorities at Monash (e.g. those outlined Monash’s Impact 2030 Strategic Plan)
• Projects involve staff from more than one Faculty
• Projects significantly improve the teaching related experience for staff and/ or the learning experience and learning gains for students

Desirable Criteria 

• Projects to demonstrate impact on students from more than one Faculty
• Projects should outline the potential to help others across Monash (beyond the participating Faculties) to apply the core idea to their contexts.
• Projects should include a scalable framework that allows for expansion and adaptation to other faculties and departments within Monash University, ensuring broader institutional benefit and sustainability.

The Pitch Presentation

A number of selected applications will be taken forward to The Pitch event. In preparing presentations for The Pitch event, teams should take into account that the Pitch panel and audience will not have seen their video or application (the panel at The Pitch event is not the same as the selection panel who judge your video applications). You will also submit a revised version of the Appendix, based on feedback from the selection panel.

The main focus of your Pitch presentation should be an appeal to the problem your innovation is addressing, the value it will generate, and likely success of your project, including how it can later be self-sustaining and scaled up and/or adapted to other areas of the University.

Further details about the final event and requirements for finalists will be released soon.

Final funding allocation

Budget allocations will be determined by the Pitch Panel following the team’s presentation at the final event. The Pitch panel reserves the right to release funds in alternative ways to those outlined in the application (e.g. allocated funds could be more, or less, than the amount requested in the application).

Please note that funding allocation may involve some renegotiation after The Pitch. This may include (but is not limited to) requests for the project team to factor in alternative perspectives, to consider other collaborations or recalibration of the project’s scope in order to extend the innovative potential and scalability of the project. This will be determined by the assessment of the project priority to the University and justification of approach outlined.

Timeline

Projects will begin within the 6 months of funding allocation and must be completed by 30 November 2025.

Reporting

1. An interim report from each funded team must be submitted by May 2025
2. A representative from each funded team must report on project progress and findings at one annual meeting held during each year of the granting period.
3. A Pitch write-up must be submitted for the end of project report by December 2025, which will appear on The Pitch web page as well as submission of all shareable objects/ resources which will appear on Teach HQ.
4. There must be appropriate attribution to the Monash Education Academy, using approved logos, for all dissemination including, internal, external and international.