Impact and Evaluation Group activities

Impact and Evaluation Group (previously the Rugby Team)

The mission of the Impact and Evaluation Group is to 'propose a meaningful and workable way of evaluating the effectiveness of skills development in early career researchers'.

The current terms of reference (2008 - 2012) are to:

• inform national and agency policies and practices relating to the evaluation of skills development of researchers
• provide sector input into shaping a programme to build an evidence base on the effectiveness of developing researchers' skills
• act as a sector ‘sounding board' to Vitae with respect to their engagement in helping to build the evidence base.

Each year it agrees a range of projects, based on the recommendations of the Vitae Policy Forum.

The Impact Framework

The Impact Framework (IF) is an evaluation model for training and development activity specifically tailored to the context of training and development of researchers in higher education (HE).  It explores the potential benefits of investment in training and development activity for the many different stakeholder groups.  It proposes a model for evaluation and highlights example techniques for evaluation.  It is intended that the Impact Framework will foster, support and potentially guide existing and new ways of effectively evaluating researcher training and development, with the aim of encouraging further engagement in the evaluation agenda by higher education institutions (HEIs) and aiding the HE sector in building a more comprehensive evidence base. 

The IF was presented in draft form at the Roberts Policy Forum of 2008 and, after stakeholder consultation, in a finalised form at the Vitae Conference, September 2008.  Regular updates on evaluation activity in the sector are provided at the annual Roberts Policy Fora and Vitae Conferences.    A JISCmail email network for sharing ideas, information and practice in evaluation in the sector has been set-up.  To join email a request to t.p.bromley@adm.leeds.ac.uk

Vitae Policy Forum 2009: Impact Framework Update Jan 2009

Activity Update March 2009: Evaluation and Impact Framework Update Mar 2009

Activity Update June 2009: Evaluation and Impact Framework Update June 2009

Evaulation update to the Vitae Conference 2009 : Impact Framework one year on Sept 2009

For those of you who would like a quick guide to the RTIF please click here: Quick Guide to the Impact Framework

Evaulation update at the Vitae Coference 2010: The impact of researcher training and devlopment: two years on and Appendix to the report 

Other activities

The IEG, wherever possible, advise key stakeholders, particularly RCUK and the sector, on the implications for the skills and employability agendas of major initiatives, such as, the Bologna process, the European Charter and Code and the Concordat, and future funding and monitoring mechanisms for researcher development.