Strategic Investment Fund

The Faculty of Medicine is investing in achieving our strategic priorities.

The UBC Faculty of Medicine’s refreshed strategic plan, Building the Future: 2021-2026, describes our vision and values, expresses the commitments in our contracts with society and with ourselves, and identifies one goal and four strategies for each of the four pillars: Education, Research, Organization, and Partnership.

The purpose of the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) is to encourage members of the Faculty of Medicine to advance the Faculty’s strategic goals outlined in its strategic plan. The SIF will invest up to $1M per year to support new and innovative projects that result in impactful and sustainable outcomes.

The 2023 competition is an open call and proposals supporting all strategies and pillars are invited for submission. In the future, the Dean may target specific priority areas for competition.

 

2023 Competition Dates

June 29, 2023: Call for proposals
August 21, 2023: Space and IT consultation deadline
September 11, 2023: Application deadline
December 2023: Funding announcement

Contact

For any questions regarding this program, contact: fom.strategicplan@ubc.ca

Guidance for applicants

The following sections are mandatory for all proposals, and the following guidance is provided on how to effectively address these criteria:

The Faculty’s refreshed strategic plan, Building the Future: 2021-2026, outlines four pillars (Education, Research, Organization and Partnerships) that provide an organizing framework for its goals and strategies. Proposals must align with at least one pillar and advance one or more of the strategies under that pillar. Applicants must specify the pillar(s) and strategy(ies) that their project aligns with and explain how the project’s activities and/or outcomes will advance the Faculty’s strategic goals.

Applicants must consider and describe how their project will support culture transformation by promoting equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism/anti-oppression as foundations for systemic and behavioural change. The project should integrate principles of EDI in its execution (e.g., project team, student engagement, collaborative partners, community engagement) and outcomes (e.g., intended beneficiaries). Relevant frameworks and policies are available for review and the REDI Office is available for consultation.

Applicants must consider and describe how their project will contribute to the Faculty’s commitments to reconciliation, decolonization and Indigenization. In addition, applicants should articulate how they situate themselves in relation to Indigenous engagement and their role in advancing truth and reconciliation. Applicants should review the Faculty’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action and UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan. As appropriate, applicants should seek advice from the UBC Indigenous Research Support Initiative, the Office of Indigenous Strategic Initiatives and the REDI Office.

To ensure projects are well-planned and infrastructure requirements are identified, applicants must consult and obtain approval if the project involves space or digital technology. The consultations should be initiated at least three weeks prior to the application deadline.

Space/facilities requirements: If the project involves any potential change to existing space usage (e.g., a significant change in the number or type of users, installation of new equipment requiring power, data or other special infrastructure) or requires new space, a space plan must be submitted as part of the application. Applicants must consult with and obtain sign-off from Stephen Arentsen (stephen.arentsen@ubc.ca), Senior Planner, Space Planning & Facilities Management, for this plan. Download the space/facilities plan (MS Word).

Digital technology requirements: Projects involving the development of digital technology solutions such as digital learning resource design and development, research data collection, data and analytics, cloud computing, websites/web apps, or end-user collaboration technology, must consult with and obtain sign-off from the Office of the Deputy CIO Medicine (dcio.medicine@ubc.ca), for this plan. Download the digital technology plan (MS Word).

Indigenous-focused projects

As described above, all SIF projects must address commitments to reconciliation, decolonization, and Indigenization. Furthermore, applicants who propose activities directly aligned with one or more of the following objectives must provide additional information about their approach in their application. It is important for applicants to consider how their project will increase awareness and knowledge of First Nations, Inuit, or Metis culture, demonstrating a commitment to learning about the distinctness of Indigenous Peoples in BC and Canada. Additionally, applicants should describe the process of co-developing, prioritizing, and leading activities in collaboration with Indigenous communities. Finally, applicants are requested to outline their existing knowledge and expertise relevant to undertaking this project. A sub-panel will review this information to enable the Dean’s Office to provide appropriate support and guidance.

Applicants proposing an Indigenous-focused project are strongly encouraged to work through the ISP Self-Assessment Tool during the proposal development phase or to include this work in the project itself, and seek advice from the UBC Indigenous Research Support Initiative on Indigenous research methodologies.

  • Exploring the experiences and perspectives of Indigenous students, faculty or staff. This may include topics such as curriculum, admissions, the learning environment, faculty experiences and practices, the practice environment, learner well-being, pedagogical approaches, and health equity, as well as other aspects of health training and research.
  • Work that is grounded in relationship and community through engaging in dialogue, collaborations, or cultivating relationships with Indigenous community partners.
  • Improving or enhancing of Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing.
  • Deconstructing colonialism and moving away from unequal colonial knowledge structures.
  • Promoting reconciliation of power relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
  • Addressing specific Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action.

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in the competition, the following requirements apply:

  • The applicant must be affiliated with the UBC Faculty of Medicine and can serve as either the project lead or a project team member.
  • Each project can have up to two project leads, who will be referred to as co-leads.
  • Learners and external stakeholders are only eligible to serve as project team members.
  • Individuals can participate in multiple proposed projects, but they can only be named as the project lead on one application per competition.

How to apply

Application submission & deadline

Applications must be submitted online through the Survey Monkey Apply portal:

Apply online

The deadline for the 2023 call for proposals is: September 11, 2023

SIF Proposals are accepted until 11:59:59pm on the day of the deadline. A proposal received on September 11 at 11:59:59pm will be accepted, but a proposal received at 12:00:00am on September 12 will not.

Application components

SIF proposals include the following sections:

  • Project title
  • Name and contact information for the Project Lead and, if applicable, Project Co-Lead
  • List of project team members (10 maximum)

  • Project summary (100 words)
  • The primary strategic pillar and strategy the project proposes to advance
  • If applicable, the secondary strategic pillar and strategy the project proposes to advance
  • Checkbox: Does the project directly advance one or more of the Indigenous-focused objectives described above? If checked, additional details will be required in the project description.
  • Project start- and end-dates

  • Proposal: A description of the proposed project, including details on the need for the project, innovation, feasibility, long-term and short-term objectives, and key project milestones with dates. (500 words)
  • Strategic alignment: Articulation of how the project aligns with and is likely to advance the Faculty of Medicine’s strategic plan, including its vision, values, contract, goals and strategies. (250 words)
  • Team: Evidence that the Project Lead and team have the necessary qualifications/expertise to execute the project, along with a description of their roles in the project. (250 words)
  • EDI, anti-racism/anti-oppression: Details on how the project will support culture transformation through anti-racism/anti-oppression principles and promote EDI as the foundation for systemic and behavioural change. (150 words)
  • Reconciliation, decolonization, and Indigenization: Details on how the project will contribute to the Faculty’s commitments to reconciliation, decolonization and Indigenization, and on the applicant(s)’ role in advancing truth and reconciliation. (150 words)
  • Intended outcome(s): Description of the sustainable deliverable, lasting benefit, or important next step that this project will deliver. (75 words)
  • Evaluation: Description of the evaluation approach (i.e., qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation metrics) that will be used to assess whether the project has achieved a sustainable deliverable, produced a lasting benefit or led to an important next step (100 words).
  • Sustainability: Assessment of the project’s potential to be scaled up to engage or benefit more broadly beyond the initial funding period, as well as a description of a sustainability plan. (125 words)
  • Knowledge translation: Description of how the project outcomes, evaluation and lessons learned will be shared with the broader Faculty of Medicine community. (100 words)
  • Budget and justification: List of budget items and budget justification that will be used to assess the realism of the budget. Applicants must ensure that the project does not have conceptual or budgetary overlap with other secured or applied-for sources of funding. (Justification: 250 words)

Additional requirement for proposals with one or more Indigenous-focused objectives:

  • A short description of the project’s proposed activities and approach. (250 words)

The application template (MS Word) is available for information purposes and to support offline proposal development. Please note that this template cannot be used for proposal submission. Applications must be submitted through the Survey Monkey Apply portal.

Review & selection process

The proposals will be initially screened by the Dean’s Office to ensure they meet the minimum requirements. Proposals will then be assigned to members of an adjudication panel who will review and score them based on the assessment criteria. The adjudication panel will then meet to review the proposals and the funds available. For proposals with an Indigenous-focused objective(s), a sub-panel comprised of individuals with Indigenous experience and knowledge will review and provide recommendations to the panel. The panel’s chair will recommend proposals for funding to the Dean for final selection and funding decisions.

Reporting

In accepting a SIF allocation for a successful proposal, the Project Lead agrees to submit status and final reports according to the schedule outlined in the funding letter and using the templates provided.

Eligible costs

Project funds are intended to support the development of approaches to address the Strategic Plan’s objectives and strategies. All projects funded by the SIF are required to adhere to UBC’S Expenditure Guidelines and the Indigenous Finance Guidelines.

Allowable expenses may include:

  • Personnel costs, such as salary expenses for a one-time or term-limited position dedicated to the project. The decision to extend or shift the position to permanent once the project is complete is up to the unit responsible for sustaining it.
  • Technology costs, including expenses for equipment, software, or material that are scalable and sustainable, and be accessible beyond a single unit or small group of individuals.
  • Meeting or workshop costs, such as focus groups, and stakeholder consultations.
  • Outreach or engagement-related costs.
  • Honoraria as a token of recognition, such as for speakers, moderators, or content experts.
  • Travel costs.
  • Media services.

Requirements & criteria

For an application to be considered, the proposed investment must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Investments must be one-time or term-limited, and not recurring. In other words, investments must be used to fund specific projects rather than ongoing operational needs.
  • Investments must not be allocated towards independent research projects that aim to advance the research objectives of a single investigator or group of investigators.
  • Investments must not be directed toward projects that primarily focus on clinical care delivery or clinical care system improvements as these types of projects fall outside of the Faculty of Medicine’s teaching and research mandate.

Applications that meet the minimum requirements will be evaluated based on the following ten assessment criteria:

  1. Need, innovation, and feasibility: The degree of need for the proposed project, its level of innovation, and its feasibility in terms of implementation, resources (including space and digital technology, if applicable), and timeline.
  2. Alignment and advancement: The extent to which the proposal aligns with and advances the Faculty of Medicine’s strategic plan, including its vision, values, contracts, goals, and strategies.
  3. Project leadership and team: The qualifications and experience of the Project Lead and the proposed team members, including their expertise, skills, and track record in relevant areas.
  4. Promotion of EDI, anti-racism/anti-oppression: The extent to which the proposal incorporates EDI and anti-racism/anti-oppression principles in the design, implementation and outcomes.
  5. Advancement of commitments towards reconciliation, decolonization, and Indigenization: The extent to which the project clearly articulates its goals and strategies for reconciliation, decolonization and Indigenization. Additionally, the applicant’s reflection on their own positionality in relation to the concepts of truth and reconciliation will be considered.
  6. Project outcomes: The potential of the project to produce a sustainable deliverable, lasting benefit, or important next step.
  7. Metrics of success: The extent to which the metrics of success are clearly defined and relevant to the project objectives and expected outcomes.
  8. Knowledge translation: The extent to which the knowledge translation plan clearly and concisely describes how the project’s findings and insights will be communicated to the Faculty of Medicine community and contribute to positive change in the field.
  9. Budget realism: The realism and adequacy of the proposed budget, including its alignment with the project's scope, goals, and timeline, and its feasibility in terms of available resources and funding priorities.
  10. Overall value for money and benefit: The potential of the proposed project to offer good value for money to the Faculty of Medicine, and to generate the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people, either on its own merits or relative to other proposed projects in the same round.

To evaluate applications that propose to specifically advance one or more Indigenous-focused objectives, the committee will consider recommendations from a sub-panel on:

  1. Degree to which the project is motivated by community-led interests, reciprocal relationships and principles of mutual accountability.
  2. Proposal’s culturally safe engagement strategy and methodology.
  3. Applicant’s knowledge/expertise for undertaking this project.

Additional information

The term of the grant is between one to two years, depending on the proposed project start and end dates. Projects must be planned in such a way that all activities are completed within two years of the project start date. Projects that involve specific engagement or activities that involve Indigenous communities, partners and/or learners will be considered for three-year terms.

Multi-year projects will receive funds at the start of the project. All eligible expenditures must be incurred before the end of the award term and reconciled within 3 months of the project end-date. Any unspent funds will be returned to the Dean’s Office after this period, unless a one-year no-cost extension is granted with sufficient justification at the discretion of the Dean. Requests for a no-cost extension must be submitted prior to the project end date. The SIF Project Lead and Co-Lead (if applicable) are responsible for monitoring project expenditures and ensuring the SIF account is not overspent. In case of overspending, the Project Lead and Co-Lead (if applicable) are responsible for covering any account over-expenditures with their home department/unit.

SIF funds must be spent on items proposed in the SIF application or on items reasonably required to complete the project and/or achieve the intended project outcome. Any amounts spent, committed, and planned must be reported through the regular status report. Project Leads should contact the Program Contact to discuss any significant changes before incurring expenses. Any changes to the budget must be justified and have a positive impact on the project.

The Project Lead is responsible for managing all aspects of the project, including financial oversight. They will provide annual status reports and a final report to the Dean. A template for the reports will be provided. If the SIF Project Lead fails to submit the status report(s) and/or the final report on time, the Dean, on the recommendation of the chair of the adjudication panel, may decide to withdraw funding from the project and/or deem the Project Lead ineligible to apply for future SIF rounds. If a SIF project is not proceeding as planned, if the SIF Project Lead is not meeting their responsibilities, or if other issues arise, the panel’s chair may recommend to the Dean that funding be withdrawn from the project.

Past rounds

See summaries of projects funded through previous rounds. Note that some projects may have been funded under different program terms.

 

Building the Future: 2021–2026 is the refreshed strategic plan for UBC’s Faculty of Medicine.

Special thanks to all the faculty, staff, students and partners across the province who have contributed to the development of this plan.