Sprott Pedagogical Research Seed Grant
The Sprott Research Committee invites all full-time teaching stream faculty to apply for the Sprott Pedagogical Research Seed Grant. This program supports faculty in conducting original research on teaching and learning in the business school context, grounded in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). The grant treats pedagogy as a domain of genuine scholarly inquiry, held to the same standards of rigour and impact as discipline-based research.
The grant is designed to address a gap in how pedagogical inquiry is supported at Sprott. Teaching stream faculty bring deep expertise in how students learn in business school settings, and that expertise deserves a dedicated funding pathway. This grant funds the full arc of a SoTL project, from study design and data collection through to manuscript development and conference presentation preparation.
Particular emphasis is placed on experiential and community-based learning approaches, including case competitions, community-based projects, simulations, and co-op or internship-integrated courses. These are areas where Sprott has distinctive strength and where rigorous pedagogical research can generate knowledge of value to business schools across Canada and internationally.
Eligibility
Full-time Sprott faculty (teaching stream).
Proposed research is in its initial stages and not yet sufficiently developed to support a peer-reviewed submission or conference presentation without further data collection or development.
Projects involving human participants must comply with Carleton University’s research ethics requirements. Applicants should confirm whether ethics approval is required.
Not currently in receipt of another Sprott internal grant for the same project in the same competition cycle. If you are uncertain whether this applies to you, contact the Sprott Research Office.
Internally Restricted Research (IRR) Fund balance does not exceed $10,000 at the time of application. Applicants with IRR balances above this threshold are not eligible in the current cycle.
Past recipients are eligible to re-apply three years after receiving their last Pedagogical Research Seed Grant award.
Review Process and Evaluation Criteria
All proposals are reviewed by the Sprott Research Committee. Reviews are conducted independently and adjudicated collectively. Decisions are final.
Proposals are evaluated using the following weighted criteria:
| Evaluation Criterion | Description | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarly Merit and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Grounding | Clarity and significance of the pedagogical research question. Quality of the theoretical framework and its connection to SoTL literature. Appropriateness and rigour of the proposed methodology. | 30% |
| Pathway to Publication or Scholarly Presentation | Specificity and appropriateness of the target venue. Realism of the timeline from project completion to submission or presentation. | 25% |
| Pedagogical Significance | Expected contribution to teaching and learning practice in the business school context. Clarity of the connection between research findings and improvements to student learning outcomes or program design. | 20% |
| Feasibility | Appropriateness of scope, methodology, budget, and timeline. Adequacy of any ethics considerations addressed. | 15% |
| Alignment with Sprott’s Teaching Excellence Priorities | Relevance to Sprott’s commitment to experiential and community-based learning, and to the School’s strategic emphasis on teaching excellence as a domain of scholarly inquiry. | 10% |
Post-Award Expectations
Successful applicants are expected to:
- Use grant funds in accordance with the approved budget within the 12-month project period.
- Submit a brief end-of-grant report (maximum 1 page) within 30 days of project completion addressing: (a) research activities completed; (b) outputs generated or in progress, including manuscript drafts, datasets, or presentations; and (c) the target publication or conference submission, including the anticipated submission date.
- Unspent grant funds at the close of the project period will be returned to Sprott. Extensions and carry forwards are not permitted.
The Research Committee may use post-award reports to assess program effectiveness and inform future cycles. Faculty who successfully publish or present their SoTL research are encouraged to share their experience with colleagues to support a growing culture of pedagogical scholarship at Sprott.
How to Apply
Submit your complete application package via the application web submission form using the “Apply Now” button below.
Proposals must be received by 11:59 PM on February 15, 2027. Late submissions will not be considered.