After School Grants Program – The University of Sydney

Evaluation criteria

Grant applications for projects will be assessed against the following criteria:

1. The project falls under one or more of the following categories of activities:
   1. social and cohort-building activities for our students
   2. professional development or work-integrated learning activities for our students
   3. research and other academic opportunities for our students
   4. community volunteering projects
2. It has a positive impact on our cohort of students by developing the qualities of graduates or by creating social bonds and a sense of belonging, community and well-being.
3. It should be open to all of our students, regardless of faculty or school
4. Projects should consider strategies to minimize financial risk and student safety. If a project is assessed as presenting a serious risk, it will be considered ineligible for funding.
5. Projects that consider equity and strategies to engage diverse groups of students will be highly appreciated
6. Projects that engage our international students based both in Australia and abroad will be highly appreciated
7. Due to the unpredictability of COVID-19, projects that consider a business’s ability to adapt to an online or hybrid model due to restrictions that may arise at the time of the event will be highly appreciated.
8. The declaration of external interests that you fill in as part of the application form will also be taken into account.

Projects can be discipline specific but should be open to all of our students.

Projects must have an impact on a large group of students. Funding is not available for individual activities.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you will need to:

• be a student currently enrolled at the University at the time of the current project / event
• demonstrate how the project will create a sense of community and enable the development of graduate qualities for our students
• accept fundamental commitments
• report any additional financial support or collaboration with other parties (eg local councils, other universities or businesses).

How to register

Application deadline for semester 1, 2022 at 9 a.m., Friday February 18, 2022.

To apply, you will need to complete the online application form and proposal, including your project design details such as budget, schedule and activities and making sure you meet the evaluation criteria. Your application may include multiple events or activities. These can be in person, online, or a hybrid model.

You can apply as:

• an individual
• a group of students who are not in a society
• a group of students within a company
• individuals / groups in collaboration with a company.

You can apply once per semester, individually or in a group.

What happens next

Applications will be evaluated by a committee of representatives from the Office of Student Life, Faculties, Library, Marketing and Communications and a current student. We will ensure that events and initiatives are diverse and do not duplicate existing activities at the University. Our goal is to assess the applications and notify the applicants of the result by email on Friday March 11, 2022.

Project ideas

Social and cohort-building activities for our students

• Trivia or game nights
• Cultural outings such as museum visits, art exhibitions or tours of Sydney’s main landmarks
• Dinners or coffee-gatherings
• Speed ​​up friendship networking events

Professional development or work-integrated learning activities for our students

• Information and networking events such as career fairs or job evenings
• Career development and skills building workshops
• Pitch competition, start-up, investment, case or industrial project
• Student-led art exhibitions or creative competitions
• Student-led podcasts or videos
• Workplace visits

Research and other academic opportunities for our students

• Conferences led by students
• One-minute thesis style competition or similar opportunities to present academic work
• Student debates
• Study groups or book clubs
• Writing or essay competition
• Public lectures led by students

Community volunteering projects

• Students participate in corporate volunteering at a local non-profit organization
• Student-led mental health initiatives
• Student-led volunteering initiatives that benefit the wider community, e.g. charity campaigns run by students

Fundamental commitments

You will have the following main commitments:

• design the project
• implement the project and manage the event
• write a final report including budget reconciliation, attendance and student feedback
• disclose to student life:
  • any additional funding
  • additional support or collaboration with other stakeholders
  • any potential or perceived conflict of interest
• develop marketing materials, including invitation
• promote the event through channels outside of Student News
• provide receipts to be reimbursed or bills to be paid to student life
• respond to a student survey on your experience
• share information about the initiative in meetings or forums.

As a student, it is your responsibility to act in accordance with the values ​​and principles of mutual accountability and the expectations between staff, students and the University, as set out in the University of Students Charter. Sydney (pdf, 221KB).

Key dates

Tips to help you plan

• You will have booking access to one of our creative, tech-driven play spaces, including audio and video recording studios. If you are considering a podcast project, you won’t need to include the cost of this equipment in your budget.
• Plan activities that will take place between March 20 and July 15, 2022, and allow yourself enough time to plan and promote your project.
• Complete your activities and events at least 2 weeks before your final report due date. We will email you a template for you to use to complete your final report.
• Students ashore can provide receipts for reimbursement or invoices to be paid to Student Life. It will take at least 1 month to be reimbursed.
• Offshore students will need to contact student life to discuss the payment process. You can email the team at [email protected]

COVID Health and Safety

In case of pending changes to public health orders, we recommend that you prepare a scalable version of your project, events and activities to be delivered online or as a hybrid model as a backup option.

If you are planning an in-person event or activity, you will need to consider COVID-19 security. Student Life will help you there. You will need to allow more time to plan and you should factor that into your schedule.

Support

Student Life will host an information session for successful applicants with tips and tricks on how to capture the college experience, maximize enrollment and engagement, inspire your audience, and lead a team. Student life staff will also perform regular checks to make sure your project is on track for success.

More information

We encourage you to contact us with any questions regarding the After School Grants program at [email protected]