Southern Universities Network
MONITORING, EVALUATION & THE PROGRESSION FRAMEWORK
The SUN Evaluation team work collaboratively with the other 28 Uni Connect Partnerships, with TASO as well as the Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT) team to ensure that our evaluation framework and progression framework remains relevant to the programme as well as ensuring the young people we work with are receiving a coherent and progressive programme.
The Progression Framework
We ensure that all our programme links to a progression framework to ensure that our programme builds on the skills and knowledge that the young people we work with need to succeed in progression to a higher education course. We require any activity that we fund to also use the framework to show how it meets the objectives of our programme. The progression framework is linked back to our evaluation framework which you can view here:
The SUN Progression Framework is split into three progression stages and 38 learning objectives. The learning objectives are grouped into three themes:
These three themes underpin all the activities and projects delivered and funded by SUN. They have been identified from previous evaluation evidence and wider research in widening participation. To find out more about why these three themes, read our Phase 1 review and planning report.
Evaluation
Evaluation – This includes the following tasks across all SUN funded activity:
HEAT forms, baseline and follow up surveys:
This takes place in the autumn term. To robustly evaluate SUN ask target learners to complete a HEAT consent form – for further information on why watch the short video. The baseline and follow-up survey ensure that SUN can identify any change that has taken place since learners have engaged in SUN funded activity. We know that this part is really tricky, but we appreciate your support and understanding that this bit is really important to the impact of the project. For further information get in contact with your Project Leader.
Activity surveys:
SUN try and keep the number of surveys for activities as low as possible –but sometimes surveys are the best way for us to collect information quickly. At some SUN events, or if we fund a project in your school or college, SUN may ask you and/or your students to complete a pre and post survey. This is important in understanding if the event or project has had the desired impact/outcome. If surveys aren’t completed, SUN is not able to evaluate and this may impact upon future funding.
Focus Groups and Interviews:
Sometimes for events or projects that are really intense SUN would like to gain further information and qualitative data to help us understand the personal impact of projects. SUN may ask learners, or staff, to take part in an interview or focus group. As with all evaluation, this is not mandatory and participants will always have the opportunity to decline.