All applications must be submitted online, but you are encouraged to download a copy of the application form and review the information that's required. This includes information about the submitters and their institution, opportunities for demonstrating excellence for the seven criteria and signatures of the lead submitter and the Head of the Institution. Before addressing the criteria, applicants are asked to provide an outline of the curriculum in diagrammatic form.

The institution’s designated programme will constitute “the curriculum” for the ASPIRE program application and the process of development of this curriculum will be assessed using the specified criteria for excellence.

The following pages provide detailed guidance on how to complete the application form for the curriculum development award. Included are:

• Descriptions of the types of evidence that should be provided as supporting documentation
• A glossary of key terms

Please read this document carefully to determine whether you meet the criteria for this award.

The Application Form

The application form contains 6 sections:

• Section A Submitter Information
• Section B Response Relating to Criteria
• Section C Summary
• Section D Additional Information / Supporting Documentation
• Section E Student Perspective
• Section F Certification Signatures by Lead Submitter and Dean of Institution

Each of these sections must be completed in full.

General Guidance

Responses to each criterion need to be specific and provide the evidence necessary to support the statement. Examples should be given where the curriculum development has had an impact.

It is recognised that cultural, social and other issues are likely to have an influence on the development and delivery of curriculum in an institution and that it will vary from institution to institution. Excellence may be found in institutions with limited access to resources just as much as in resource-rich institutions. The way in which institutions demonstrate the effectiveness of their programme within their particular context will be taken into account by the panel when reviewing individual submissions.

Language

The entire form must be submitted in a machine-readable format. All references to external documents or web sites must be via hyperlinks. With the exception of the appendices, all documentation should be in English. Where the appendices are in another language, a supporting commentary must be provided in English (see Commentary to Appendices below).

Glossary

A glossary of the key terms used in curriculum development is included at the end of this booklet.

Word limits

The expected word limit for each section is clearly stated within the form. It is important that these word limits are adhered to, and that the number of words used is indicated in the box provided.

Missing information

If a criterion or sub-category is considered not to be applicable to the institution, this should be stated on the form and appropriate justification provided.

Appendices

Where additional evidence is provided in the appendices, it must be made clear how the evidence demonstrates that the criteria have been met by the institution.

The appropriate section of the appendix should be identified and cross-referenced to Section B in the application form, making clear how the evidence is relevant.

All appendices should be numbered and listed in Section D of the form as Supporting Documentation.

The maximum number of Appendices permissible is 30.

Commentary to appendices

Each piece of supporting documentation included as an appendix must be accompanied by a short commentary in English to explain the relevance of the document and how it supports the institution’s statement. It should be clearly indicated which criterion or criteria are supported by the evidence in the appendix. The commentary should be no more than 300 words and summarise the key points from the appendix, including how the appendix provides evidence to support the statements in the submission document.

Please note: Evidence in an appendix that is not accompanied by a short commentary will not be reviewed.