EDI Project Fund Competition

The EDI Project Fund is specially designed to facilitate innovative projects to support equality, diversity and inclusion within TUS and more broadly.  All those interested in working creatively to further and promote EDI activities through innovative projects such as symposiums, workshops, sport activities, arts and cultural events (this is a non-exhaustive list) are encouraged to apply.

As this funding is short term, it is aimed at being a catalyst for EDI related initiatives within TUS and beyond. Examples of what funds may be used for include:

• Payment for Guest Speakers for EDI related events,
• Conducting focus groups with staff/students/local community on EDI related themes as part of a short research project,
• Materials for creative work/arts/cultural events which highlight EDI related themes,
• Development of technology which support EDI related themes.

All payments must comply with TUS Procurement, Payroll, Invoice and Reimbursement guidelines. If you are unsure whether your idea can be covered by this Fund, please reach out to the EDI Office.

Proposals may be made by individual staff members or by two or more people / groups in collaboration with students. Joint staff and student initiatives in collaboration with community organisations are particularly welcome. In all cases, a Project Organiser (who is a current staff member) must be appointed as the main point of contact and responsible party for the project. Fund transfers will be made to the relevant Departmental accounts where the Project Organiser is based.

The project must be completed within Academic Year 2023/2024.

Applications must be submitted using the application form provided. The closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday, 16^th November 2023 at 1pm. Applications which are late, incomplete, or do not display sufficient planning / attention to detail will not be considered.

The EDI Project Fund will be overseen by an EDI Assessment Panel appointed by the EDI Manager. Successful projects winners will be notified early December 2023.

The working group will consider the applications received by the published deadline and will award funds to selected proposals following the selection process outlined below.

Proposals will be judged according to the following criteria:

• Relevance to equality grounds enshrined in Irish legislation (20 points)
• Expected benefit (impact) for TUS (30 points)
• Expected benefit (impact) for wider society (10 points)
• Originality and creative approach (20 points)
• Value for money (20 points)

The EDI Assessment Panel will reserve the right to award funds only to those proposals which achieve an overall score of 70 or higher, noting that this could result in the full fund not being awarded at any particular time. Depending on the number and quality of the received proposals, not all projects scoring 70 or higher may receive funding, and the EDI Assessment Panel reserves the right to award any particular project an amount of funding which is lower than the sum requested in the application.

All applicants, successful and unsuccessful, will be informed in writing of the outcome of the assessment process by early December 2023.

Normally, payment of the grant will be by reimbursement (on the basis of vouched expenditure) to a TUS Cost Centre as outlined on the EDI Project Fund application. Invoices which are approved in advance may be paid directly by EDI.  All expenditure must be receipted and accounted for, and a final financial report provided prior to reimbursement.

Project Organisers should be aware that processing each reimbursement may take time to complete.

All recipients must complete the EDI Project Fund Report provided upon completion of the project and submit it, together with any other specified documentation, to the Office Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.  The project report should include:

• Detail of activities completed
• Outcome/Impact of activities completed
• Expenditure Record

Project Funding

• Funding support is provided in respect of the costs arising from the delivery of a project of work as outlined in successful applicant project proposal to TUS EDI Office;
• Funding for project will only be released on return of an appropriately completed acceptance form
• Funding is provided, and may only be used for, the project as set out in submitted proposal;
• Any variation to the agreed project objectives and/or implementation plan should be made with the prior agreement and authorisation by the TUS EDI Office;
• All payments must comply with the TUS Procurement, Payroll, Invoice and Reimbursement guidelines

Project Dissemination

• You will be required to acknowledge the TUS EDI Office as a funder of the project in any promotions or publications involving the project.

Project Reporting

• Succesful applicants will be asked to report on activities completed, outcome/impact of activities and expenditure as part of a project progress report;

Project Organiser

Successful applicants will appoint a Project Organiser for their project. This person will be responsible for:

• Monitoring the project’s budget and submitting payment requests to the EDI Office
• Implementing the project
• Ensuring that the project is completed in accordance with the EDI Project Fund Terms and Conditions and relevant TUS policies
• Reporting to EDI Office on project progress

In case of any query or difficulty arising with a project, the Project Organiser must contact the EDI Office immediately. The EDI Office will assist project organisers with:

• Processing reimbursements for project expenses
• Publicising projects on EDI internal and external communications
• General advice and guidance regarding the completion of the project