Applying Grants for GBL R&D: An On-going Struggle

I have been trying to kick start R&D related to GBL since my return to Malaysia from UK in March 2011. My excitement was great as I had just completed my PhD in GBL. However, the proposals I wrote--two to Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) and another to Prototype Development Research Grant Scheme (PRGS)--were rejected by Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE).

Herewith the topics of the rejected proposals:

1. Games as Instructional Interventions: Constructing a Learn-based Gaming Model for In-game Coaching and In-game Practice Design 

2. Formulating Heuristic Design Principles through Sun Tzu’s The Art of War: A Knowledge Transfer Model for Revitalising Ancient Chinese Wisdom for Use in Modern Design

3. eGET (eGlossary for Educational Technology) 

I felt really sorry for these rejection, mainly because I disappointed colleague and friends from UK, Hong Kong and Malaysia who entrusted me as the proposed project leader. Nonetheless, I believe there might be other sources of research fund available for these projects. I have confidence in the quality and professionalism of people who joined me, and I will keep an eye on other funding opportunities.

When I discussed the rejection with some professors in UPSI, they said the panels who reviewed the proposals might not know what I ACTUALLY want to do. In other words, the potential and importance of games and game-based learning practice for education are alien to senior academics in Malaysia. Therefore, I sense the need to promote GBL practice first before sending any more research proposals.

I managed to secure a mini-fund worth slightly over RM7000 (less than USD2500) to explore the potential of games and GBL through the eyes of teacher trainers. Also, I am grateful to have great support from my superiors and colleague in Creative Multimedia Department, Faculty of Art, Computing and Creative Industry. In a team, we initiated a series of activities to promote GBL at faculty-level, university-level and hopefully national level later. Once the right time arrives, I am ready to apply research grants again.