Robust evaluation is crucial for contributing to the development of sector-wide knowledge of what works, for whom, and in what contexts, to address risks to equality of opportunity. As providers further develop their evaluation strategies, they are encouraged by the Office for Students (OfS) to consider sharing evaluation expertise or resources with one another and expected to consider how they intend recording, publishing and sharing evaluation activity and findings to maximise understanding across the sector. This in-person NERUPI event is designed specifically for evaluators and evaluation managers supporting the delivery of intervention strategies.

The morning programme will start with a progress update from Heather Bowyer, Senior Officer Access and Participation at the OfS, with opportunities to discuss OfS requirements and ask Heather questions. The next session, led by Dr Joanne Moore and Annette Hayton, will be an opportunity to share experiences and consider the challenges evaluators and evaluation managers might be encountering. This will focus on the steps and stages of robust evaluation set out in the NERUPI approach and the new resources available to support the evaluation process.

The theme of the afternoon programme will be dissemination. Sessions will include TASO on the Higher Education Evaluation Library (HEEL), Dr Clare Gartland on writing for publication and a discussion led by Dr Sally Griffin exploring the ways NERUPI members can learn from and share their evaluation findings to improve practice in the sector.

At this NERUPI event participants will:

• Learn more about the current OfS approach to intervention strategies
• Share the experiences and challenges that evaluators encounter as their intervention strategies are being delivered and how the new NERUPI resources can support this process
• Hear from TASO about the plans for the HEEL
• Find out how to use your evaluation findings as a basis for publications in journals
• Explore the ways providers can learn from and share their evaluation findings.

Download the draft short programme here