Experiential Learning Design Grant
Experiential learning (EL) is a hallmark of the University’s approach to education that emphasizes the relevance and integration of theory and practice.
The EL Design Grant (ELDG) has been introduced for the 2025–26 academic year to offer instructors an opportunity to meaningfully integrate Experiential Learning into their teaching of one or more confirmed Winter 2026 courses. The grant is being offered through the EL Hub with workshop and facilitation support from the Teaching Development/Digital Learning team and other resource units across the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching.
The deadline to submit an EL Design Grant Application has passed
While the main objective of the Experiential Learning Design Grant is to support educators’ intentions to include EL in their course designs, an additional, informal goal is to support the ability of educators to develop and/or deepen relationships with on-campus partners who make EL possible. Despite EL being a key institutional priority, opportunities vary for educators to build capacity to effectively and inclusively teach through EL and partner on student education and graduate professionalization using EL.
Over the Fall 2025 semester, through participation in an EL design retreat, instructors will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding about the curricular integration of EL and to receive support to design and implement EL into one or more of their Winter 2026 courses.
Applications for 2025 are currently closed.
2025 EL Design-Grant Recipients
Tamer Abdou
ClND 110: Data Organization for Data Analysts
Engineering, Architecture and Science
This project focuses on developing an industry-integrated, case-based learning activity for a database engineering course emphasizing applied SQL. Students will engage with a realistic user story case study, taking on the role of data analysts to solve a practical data-driven challenge.
Conducted within a dedicated class session, the activity will feature an industry expert who serves as a coach, guiding students through authentic problem-solving processes. By combining technical skill development with real-world application, mentorship, and reflection, this initiative strengthens the connection between classroom learning and industry practice, helping students move beyond having just procedural knowledge to having applied professional competence.
Balaji Gopalan
MEIE8010B: Startup Feasibility Project
Master of Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship
This project aims to develop an industry-integrated coaching model in which industry experts provide structured guidance to student teams engaged in new venture creation projects. Through a series of coaching sessions with industry experts and complementary reflection activities, students will have the opportunity to connect entrepreneurial theory with real-world practice.
The initiative focuses on designing a scalable, experiential learning framework that enhances collaboration between students and industry mentors, while fostering critical reflection and applied problem-solving skills. This project represents a strategic effort to advance experiential learning pedagogy in entrepreneurship education by emphasizing meaningful engagement and equitable access to authentic, practice-based learning experiences
On September 15, 2025 Experiential Learning hosted an interactive information session with details about the proposal, adjudication process, November design sessions, and expectations for course-level integration during the Winter 2026 semester.
For questions about eligibility or for any other reason, please contact experiential@torontomu.ca
For budget and eligible expense questions, email Jasmine Cherian, Operations and Project Specialist, at jasmine.cherian@torontomu.ca