Instructional Innovation Grant Application Now Open (for UC Berkeley Instructors)

In collaboration with the Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer and in support of a pilot initiative called the Berkeley Changemaker, the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (SCET) is committed to expanding the innovation ecosystem across campus and throughout all disciplines by offering Instructional Innovation Grants up to $20,000 for UC Berkeley instructional courses.

The intent of the Instructional Innovation Grant is to encourage innovation in a multitude of fields across campus in an effort to champion Berkeley’s rich portfolio of innovation and entrepreneurship activities to the benefit of students, faculty, staff, external partners and the community. In partnership with SCET, grant recipients will foster innovation of all kinds.

The Instructional Innovation Grant program especially welcomes multi-disciplinary, team-taught and/or project-based courses that promote active learning and engagement. SCET curriculum operates as an innovation collider, bringing together technical depth, mindset/behavior, and emerging areas to support the goal of changing education, empowering students, and directly impacting industry and society. SCET is looking to support other programs on campus that are empowering students in their own discipline to be innovative in ways that will make a positive impact on the world. Although founding a company may not be the goal of every student, all of them will benefit from the ability to strive for innovation, take risks, see value, rely on teams, learn from failure and question the status quo.

Eligibility and How to Apply

All UC Berkeley Spring 2020 instructors are eligible to apply.

• To apply, complete the online Google Form.

Deadline and Notification of Award

Spring 2020 applications are due November 30, 2019.
Recipients will be notified by January 10, 2020.

Benefits, Terms, and Supportive Collaboration Opportunities

• Transfer of grant funds via interdepartmental order.
• Cross-promotion of instructor and course including cross-listing on department and campus websites, additional online platforms and in communication materials.
• Consideration for a mutually agreed upon number of students (no more than 10%) to be eligible to participate in the course. Students to be recommended by SCET.
• Meeting with SCET faculty leadership at least one time to discuss the Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship and how it could be leveraged in course curriculum.
• Invitation to SCET end of term flagship event ‘Collider Cup’ as well as provided presentation/pitch mentoring for participating team.
• Access to SCET network for guest lecturers, panel participants and mentors.
• Offer training on Innovation Engineering Navigator tool.

Award Information

Each course is eligible for a grant up to $20,000. Instructional Innovation Grants may be used at the discretion of the instructor.

Impact of Grant

Upon completion of the grant sponsored course, a 1-2 page summary may be requested for the purpose of disseminating results and sharing guiding practices gleaned from the collaboration. Additionally, within one year of receiving a grant, all funded applicants will be sent a questionnaire in which they will be asked to describe the results and impact of their course.