Programme Evaluation

Categories: SARIMA COURSES

About Course

The increasing focus on programme results is leading to an increase in demand for availability and use of programme evaluation information. In ensuring better programme delivery, programme evaluation can help to identify strengths and gaps, improve programmes, scale up and follow through on approaches that work best, identify standards, and modify or discontinue those that are less effective.

This course focuses on the fundamentals of programme evaluation. It will provide practical experience in the design of a conceptual framework, metrics and indicators, use of evaluation analytics tools, and development and communication of an evaluation plan and results.

Course Information

Structure:

  • Module 1: Introduction to programme evaluation
  • Module 2: Setting and tracking SMART goals and objectives
  • Module 3: Programme evaluation planning and data needs
  • Module 4: Data collection
  • Module 5: Making data usable with analysis
  • Module 6: Communicating and learning from evaluation results

Successful completion:

  • Progress quiz: after each module to self-check content understanding (does not count
  • Discussion forum contribution: after each module to confirm module knowledge application (5% of total course mark)
  • Course Assignment: to be completed any time before exam (35% of total course mark)
  • Course Exam: to be completed for final assessment (60% of total course mark)
Show More

What Will You Learn?

  • This course focuses on the fundamentals of programme evaluation. It will provide practical experience in the design of a conceptual framework, metrics and indicators, use of evaluation analytics tools, and development and communication of an evaluation plan and results.

Course Content

SARIMA ONLINE SHORT COURSE STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

  • STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
  • Student Acknowledgement

Introduction

Module 1: Introduction to Programme Management
This module will introduce the purpose and nature of programme evaluation, which is an important element of results-oriented research management. Throughout this module, participants will learn the basic framework for understanding programme evaluation, including important terminologies and concepts. This module also presents the various types of programme evaluation, their uses and benefits. It discusses the key steps involved in designing and implementing a programme evaluation framework, including the necessary standards and guidelines. Participants will also extend their knowledge on the challenges and barriers of programme evaluation and reflect on their own organisation’s programme evaluation practices and challenges.

Module 2: Setting and tracking SMART goals and objectives
When planning to evaluate a programme or its components, it is important to be clear about what an evaluation wants to accomplish. This module will help clarify evaluation goals and types of evidence required to answer evaluation questions. The module will also help participants delineate between programme goals and objectives and understand the differences. It will enable participants to understand two main approaches: the logical framework and the theory of change. The module will also demystify common evaluation terminologies such as outputs, outcomes, activities and impact. Finally, the module will discuss metrics, their properties, including guidelines on what makes a good metric and how these can be used to build results-driven programme evaluation.

Module 3: Programme evaluation planning and data needs
In this module, the focus is on the type of information that a programme evaluation should collect and generate. It explores the type of evaluation questions that we should ask to generate information related to various criteria such as programme relevance and sustainability. The module will also introduce the concept of monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) linked to programme evaluation. It will present how each of these concepts differs and the key steps involved in developing an MEL plan, and its basic contents. Lastly, the module will provide an overview of the type of data that can support MEL, including features, utility and trade-offs, and the importance of baseline data in programme evaluation.

Module 4: Data collection
Access to quality data helps improve quality of programme evaluation results and decision- making. This module looks at the connection between data and programme evaluation. The focus is on preparing to gather the two main types of data: qualitative and quantitative data, and the common methods for collecting this data. The module provides a comparison and practical application of the methods that can be used to guide when and how to use them to support programme evaluation needs. This module also introduces digital technologies and applications that can be used for data collection and for supporting and monitoring the data collection process. This module also provides research managers with tips, best practice and guiding principles for conducting and commissioning programme evaluations.

Module 5: Making data usable – analysis
evaluation team, whether internal or external, will participate in a data analysis process, which is an important part of every programme evaluation. Too often, however, research managers find data analysis daunting and complex. This module will provide basic information about various techniques, statistical concepts and tools that can be used to analyse data. It will help research managers understand data analysis, and enhance their data analysis skills so that they can participate more in this process. The module will also provide practical examples to illustrate the application of underlying key concepts, including condensing or summarising quantitative data and looking for patterns, categories or themes in qualitative data. It will look at different evaluation approaches and the benefits of using mixed-mode approaches to data analysis. Finally, the module will provide tools and resources to help research managers enhance their skills in data analysis.

Module 6: Communicating and learning from evaluation results
The next steps involved in data collection and analysis is to review the data, communicate the results to programme staff, stakeholders and the community, and use the findings. It is important to understand what the results mean before they can be communicated. Likewise, choosing the appropriate communication strategies will help in understanding the results, engaging key audiences with the data, utilising the information and following through with recommendations from the evaluation to make programme improvements. This is, after all, the purpose of programme evaluation. This module will address the process for reviewing and interpreting data and using data visualisation strategies to convey the data and information. It will also explore different strategies and best practices for communicating results, gathering support from programme stakeholders, and ensure an effective evaluation report, to help facilitate the use of evaluation findings to improve a programme.

COURSE ASSIGNMENT

Exam

SARIMA Online Short Course Evaluation

Back To Top