Prepared by Jane Kemelfield for the Victorian LearnScope Managers’ Forum, 26^th February 2004.

Who are sponsors?

• Choose people in the organisation with positional power (ie. line managers) in relation to the LearnScope project team.
  
• I draw on people from all levels of the organisational hierarchy to be sponsors and usually have multiple sponsors for each project.
  
• For the organisational-level sponsor, I have engaged the Pro Vice Chancellor of Teaching & Learning.

Why are sponsors important?

• In my organisation, arranging time release for staff involved in LearnScope projects is the number one issue. Line managers are important for ensuring that this happens.
  
• Getting project managers/teams to write their LearnScope reports can sometimes be like getting blood from a stone! Line managers assist me with this.
  
• Sponsors provide me with a support network.
  
• Having appropriate sponsors ensures that others, outside of the project team, know about the LearnScope project.
  
• The organisational-level sponsor increases the profile of LearnScope, encouraging the rest of the organisation (particularly the sponsors for each project team) to view it as important.
  
• Higher level sponsors can help to educate staff about where their project fits in the bigger picture, ie. the strategic importance of the project.

What responsibilities do sponsors have?

• Project sponsors need to ensure that the project aligns with various strategic priorities – the University, the Portfolio, the School  as well as priorities from OTTE and ANTA.
  
• The sponsor should be championing the project – spreading the word about its value and successes.
  
• Sponsors should read the project teams’ reports (not just sign them!).
  
• Assist the team’s Project Manager and/or the LearnScope Manager when a project runs into difficulties.

How can they help you, the LearnScope Manager?

• Encourage the team!
  
• Assist with the resolution of conflicts if they occur.
  
• They become a support network for the LearnScope Manager.

How should you recruit, induct them, and maintain their commitment?

• I edit the Project Planning Report to specifically list the various sponsors required. For some projects, I involve 3 - 4 sponsors.
  
• In discussions with the Project Manager, determine if there are others managers who should be involved as a sponsor.
  
• Encourage teachers with a LearnScope proposal to discuss it with their manager early on. This begins the process of recruiting a line manager as a sponsor.
  
• Meet with the team and their sponsors to discuss roles and responsibilities; or at the very least provide a written summary to the sponsor so they know what is expected of them.
  
• Maintain contact with the sponsors during the year, invite them to LearnScope events (eg. a showcase), and stay in touch via email, telephone and ‘coffee chats’.
  
• In order to maintain contact with higher level sponsors, I actively participate in various TAFE networks. This provides me with an opportunity to meet with and chat informally to both current and future sponsors.