Each year we consult with our global membership on where and how we can support them in meeting current challenges and building capability for the future.
The Collaborative Development Fund is a yearly scheme that offers all Advance HE members the opportunity to apply for grant funding to undertake work on important sector needs and goals. In 2025-2026 we are offering grants of up to £20,000 (inclusive of VAT) to two successful applicants.
By tackling important sector challenges collectively, the funding awarded by Advance HE helps our members to find new solutions and benefit from the shared learning of what works in a diverse range of teaching and research settings. Our global membership base of over 460 institutions of every shape and size means that the project outputs and findings will be reflective of how challenges can be overcome in many different contexts.
Applications for the 2025-26 Collaborative Development Fund are now closed.
You can use the link below to register your interest and stay informed about project outputs.
Introducing the 2025-26 Collaborative Development Fund Projects
This year's Collaborative Development Fund introduces two strategic themes that we are welcoming applications under:
- The Graduate of 2040 — exploring evolving learner profiles and graduate capabilities
- The Educator of 2040 — investigating future teaching roles and technology-enabled pedagogies
The successful projects will foster shared insights and collaborative pathways to envision and realize the higher education landscape of 2040, focusing on both graduate outcomes and educator roles, with a view to strengthening partner reputation, expanding revenue opportunities, and creating impactful, high-value public engagement.
We will inform all applicants of outcomes by 12 December 2025.
I’m delighted to be launching our Collaborative Development Fund for 2025-26 as we aim to support shared learning and enhancement activity by funding a range of innovative and exciting project initiatives”Nick Skeet, Director of Membership, Advance HE
Past Collaborative Development Fund Projects
Discover the innovative projects and impactful outputs supported by the Collaborative Development Fund. These projects reflect the creativity, collaboration and strategic thinking of Advance HE members as they tackle key challenges in higher education.
- Tapping the Talent: Securing Student Well-Being Outcomes Through Evaluation of Global University Campuses
- Beyond the Classroom: Supporting Student Outcomes
- The Sustainable Institutions Project: An Evidence Informed Review of Good Practice
- Inclusive Institutions: Enabling and Supporting Culture Change
- Board Diversity Practice Project
Other grant schemes for members
Global Impact Grants
Global practice sharing and learning is a cornerstone of the support that Advance HE provides for member institutions. Through funding small case studies, our Global Impact Grants are an opportunity for international Advance HE members to share success stories about higher education projects that have had a demonstrable impact on their staff or students. The case studies are available to members as examples of international best practices.
Innovative Impact Grants
Innovative Practice Grants support our small, specialist, independent and college-based HE members from within the UK in sharing good practice and impactful initiatives. Grants of £500 were awarded to successful applicants.
Supporting documents for your application
To help you prepare your application, we’ve put together a set of resources including frequently asked questions, the application criteria, and the application questions. We encourage you to review these documents carefully before getting started.
13/10/2025
CDF - Application Questions - 2025-26
View Document
13/10/2025
CDF - Assessment Criteria 2025-26
View Document
13/10/2025
CDF - FAQs 2025-26
View Document
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