Welsh Joint Education Committee European projects: monitoring and evaluation

Type of project/activity:

From 1992 to 2000 the EIESP undertook monitoring and evaluation and contributed to project development for the Welsh Joint Education Committee (Wales, UK) on its portfolio of European projects, focusing on the regional perspective, project management and the building of national and transnational partnerships.

Objectives:

The main objective of this consultancy was to evaluate the projects undertaken by the European Unit in the context of the objectives of the Unit, within the WJEC. It focused primarily o n the contribution of the projects to issues of training and employment in the Welsh social and economic context, but also on the project management processes, with a view to determining best practice and consolidating broad partnerships in Wales and Europe.

Background:

In 1991, the WJEC, best known as the body which sets examinations for schools in Wales, created a European Unit which was rapidly successful in developing innovative ideas for education and training and taking them forward as funded projects with a wide range of partners. From 1992, the European Unit team sought advice and assistance in developing its portfolio of projects and drawing out lessons and consolidating the impact. It called on the EIESP as an organisation which could provide a European perspective.

Main activities:

The EIESP monitored and evaluated EUROFORM, ADAPT, EMPLOYMENT, LEONARDO and SOCRATES projects managed by the WJEC European Unit. Results and outcomes were examined individually and collectively as part of a developing portfolio of European activity in Wales. From 1996 to 2000, for example, the unit managed 12 ADAPT and EMPLOYMENT projects, each of which included a national and transnational partnership. For certain ADAPT projects, evaluation of the transnational project was also undertaken, commissioned by the transnational partners. The evaluations involved analysis of project documentation, assessment of beneficiary satisfaction, interviews with the partners, monitoring project outcomes, etc. The overall aim was to assess the innovative ideas piloted by the project and draw lessons for their dissemination and mainstreaming in the Welsh education and training system. Project thematic areas included: support for small business development; continuing training and upskilling for the tourism, car repair, manufacturing and textile sectors and small businesses, etc.; solutions for overcoming barriers and obstacles to women's employment in rural areas and to the employment and re-integration of homeless people; keys skills through the performing arts for young people in difficulty; training for SMEs using information and communication technologies; development of CD-ROMs for foreign language learning for specific audiences, etc..

Name of client:

Welsh Joint Education Committee

Expected outcomes, reports/documents:

A series of reports were written for the WJEC and for the transnational partnerships

For more information, please contact : Jean Gordon gordon@eiesp.org