Sheffield Hallam’s Evaluation Repository shares the findings and learning from evaluation activities that are carried out by staff members and students within the University and at partnership organisations. The evaluation repository communicates unpublished evaluative items, such as reports, to raise awareness of practices and ideas that users can apply when designing and planning their own evaluations. Providers of higher education are “expected to engage routinely with the latest research and evaluation evidence available to contribute to refinement, and where necessary, review of its own activity” (The Office for Students). Sheffield Hallam has committed to developing the repository within its Access and Participation Plan 2020-24 as part of its goal to embed an evaluative mindset and promote a culture of evidence-led practice.
Users can search for evidence from existing evaluations that have been undertaken at Sheffield Hallam using either the basic or the advanced search functionality. The basic search functionality enables users to enter one or more search terms in a single text box. Advanced search functionality allows users to enter terms in multiple text boxes, such as title, authors, type of evidence, stage of the student lifecycle and key words. Specific guidance on conducting searches can be found here.
The Evaluation Repository was launched in October 2022 and the number of evaluation records is gradually increasing. Among the submissions uploaded so far include:
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- A process and impact evaluation of the PGCert and MA Student Engagement in Higher Education programme (at the University of Winchester): http://shura.shu.ac.uk/30905/
- A Theory of Change narrative for supporting mature learners in accessing higher education through a Train the Trainer intervention: http://shura.shu.ac.uk/30907/
- An evaluation of Sheffield Hallam’s financial support aimed to address student hardship: http://shura.shu.ac.uk/30729/
- An evaluation of the Global Citizenship Portfolio: http://shura.shu.ac.uk/30365/