HEI Funding
HEI Funding
Funding is available for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) who offer language courses at third level. This funding is to help HEIs promote the importance of languages to second level students and to encourage them to either study languages, or study languages in combination with other subjects. This is part of the awareness-raising campaign, Languages Connect which is a key action in the implementation of Languages Connect: Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017-2026.
Many initiatives have already been funded through this scheme, which has been in place for several years. Such activities have included #ThinkLanguages events, sending student ambassadors to schools, language weeks, competitions for both primary and post-primary schools, open days, promotional videos, events for teachers, vlogs from Irish students on Erasmus, awareness raising for new language degrees and more.
How to Apply
HEIs need to complete and submit an application form, before the closing date of Friday, 31 May 2024.
Only one application per HEI is permitted and interested applicants should review the criteria outlined below and T&Cs in advance of applying. Departments are encouraged to collaborate on the application, and supporting proposal, where relevant.
Criteria for Application – Academic Year 2024-2025
Funding is to enable HEIs to be part of the awareness-raising campaign Languages Connect, which is a key action in the implementation of Languages Connect: Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017-2026.
To be considered, HEIs must commit to:
- Partaking in #ThinkLanguages Week, a foreign language awareness campaign for TY students which takes place nationally each year. This year, activity must take place during the week of Monday 18 to Friday 22 November. We encourage HEIs to spend approximately half of their allocated funding on activities in support of #ThinkLanguages. This will be taken into account when applications are being assessed.
- Providing additional activities that promote modern foreign languages, in support of the awareness-raising campaign Languages Connect. Such activities could include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Providing Student Language Ambassadors for various events raising awareness of language courses in your HEI, and languages for careers and study abroad
- Creating materials for events which raise awareness of language courses in your HEI and languages for careers and study abroad
- Campus events which raise awareness of language courses in your HEI and languages for careers and study abroad, particularly events aimed at secondary school students
- Videos which have a targeted audience and a purpose of promoting language courses at your HEI
- Competitions to promote languages aimed at primary pupils and/or secondary students
- Outreach to secondary schools, including Guidance Counsellors, to raise awareness of language courses in your HEI and languages for careers and study abroad, including workshops and school visits
- Awareness-raising activities to support the retention of first year undergraduates studying languages
- Informing PPLI of details of all events and activities in advance, so that a member of PPLI can attend, and activity can be suitably supported/promoted by PPLI.
- Providing contact details of two active co-ordinators who will lead the activity
- Informing all relevant colleagues across departments that this funding exists and an application from the HEI is being submitted.
- Submitting an Annual Report for academic year 23/24 activity as part of the application process
- Submitting an Interim Report no later than Friday 6 December 2024
- Submitting an Annual Report on completion of activity, no later than Friday 30 May 2025
- Abide by the terms & conditions of the funding available here
