SOCRATES 2000 Evaluation Study (1999-2000)

Type of project/activity:

The final evaluation of the first phase of the EU SOCRATES Programme (1995-1999). The EIESP was responsible for the evaluation of COMENIUS, LINGUA, OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING and ADULT EDUCATION.

Objectives:

The objective of this evaluation study was to assess the outcomes, results and impacts of the first phase of the SOCRATES Programme. The major aims were:

to assess how far the objectives of the programme had been achieved,
to provide quantitative and qualitative data regarding results and the range and types of impact on the target population and the education systems,
to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the organisational and operational mechanisms.

Background:

The study was commissioned as the external evaluation of this programme, which had a budget of over 930 million Euros and which, by 1999, provided funding for education Co-operation projects, educational activities, mobility, staff training, foreign language development, information exchange and development, etc. addressing education systems at all levels, institutions, staff and students in 30 European countries.

Partners:

The evaluation team was led by the Wissenschaftliches Zentrum für Berufs-und Hochschulforschung of the University of Kassel. The international team also included the Gesellschaft für Empirische Studien (DE), the Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies of the University of Twente (NL), the European Forum on Education Administration and a team of organisations and experts from nine countries.

Main activities:

The evaluation was a comprehensive examination of the programme, including an analysis of policies and management aspects, the range of educational activities supported and their results. It was intended that this evaluation could contribute to formulating future revisions of the SOCRATES Programme. The University of Kassel and GES undertook the evaluation of ERASMUS, as well as the overall co-ordination of the study and the transversal aspects. The EIESP undertook the evaluation of the COMENIUS, LINGUA, OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING and ADULT EDUCATION actions. Specific activities organised by the EIESP included quantitative database analyses, postal surveys of projects and teachers, interviews of key national actors, workshops, etc.

Clients:

The evaluation was commissioned by the Directorate General Education and Culture of the European Commission to close the first funding phase of the programme.

Expected outcomes, reports/documents:

The outcomes of the evaluation were presented to the SOCRATES Committee for discussion in October 2000 and the Final Report was submitted to DG Education and Culture in November 2000 and is available on the web site

For more information, please contact

Jean Gordon gordon@eiesp.org