Date of press release: 28 September 2007
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- The 9 Regional Consortia in England
- National Network for Translation; National Network for Interpreting
- Governance
- Whole Programme (Consortia, Networks and Governance)
Introduction
The Routes into Languages Programme is a HEFCE and DCSF £8 million funded initiative to increase and widen participation in language study in higher education. It also aims to support the national role of HE languages as a motor of economic and civic regeneration. The Programme has been developed by the University Council of Modern Languages (UCML), the HE Academy Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies (LLAS) and CILT, the National Centre for Languages.
Evaluation is a key component of the Routes into Languages Programme and was written into the bid document.
The evaluator will be appointed by, and report to, the Programme Steering Group and will work under the direction of the Programme Director and Programme Manager.
A. Purposes of the evaluation
The purposes of the evaluation are as follows
Formative: for development purposes
- To assist reflection on how successfully the programme overall and its component projects are achieving their aims at specific stages
- To provide evidence on which to make modifications and enhance development as the work progresses
Summative: for information and accountability purposes
- To assess the outputs and impact of the programme as a whole in terms of the overall aims:
- To increase and widen participation in language study in higher education
- To support the role of HE Languages as a motor of national economic and civic regeneration.
Strategic: for decision-making and national priority purposes
- To inform national decision-making (DCSF, HEFCE, and others) regarding language study and associated workforce development.
- To assess how far the programme has contributed to the provision of wider benefits to the HE sector and to the achievement of national initiatives such as those supported by HEFCE’s SDF fund and Aimhigher.
- To assess the extent to which the outcomes of the project are sustainable.
B. Timescale
It is envisaged that the evaluation process would begin in January 2008 and would be completed by December 2010.
C. Issues to be examined
The evaluator would be expected to examine the following
- processes and outputs in relation to aims and objectives
- impact (longer term outcomes, range, knock-on effects)
- programme and project management
- risks, benefits and value for money
- overall coherence of the programme as a collaborative venture
D. Outputs
The Programme evaluator will be required to give informal feedback to project leaders and to submit annual reports to the Programme Steering Group. The schedule for formal reports, though negotiable, is likely to be
- September 2008 formative report on the first year of activity
- December 2008 preliminary strategic report
- September 2009 formative report on the second year of activity
- December 2009 interim strategic report
- September 2010 summative report on the three years of activity
- December 2010 final strategic report on the Programme
E. Methodology
We invite those tendering to explain in detail within their tender response the methodology they propose to use for this evaluation including evaluation models they feel are particularly suitable for a programme of this kind.
F. Timetable for selection of programme evaluator
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
30 October 2007 |
Deadline for submission of tenders |
|
November 2007 |
Selection of evaluation consultant (the Steering Group may invite candidates for interview) |
|
January 2008 |
Consultant begins engagement |
G. Management
The work of the evaluator will be overseen on a day to day basis by the Routes into Languages Programme Manager based at the University of Southampton. The reports will be addressed to the Programme Steering Group
H. Tender requirements
Respondents should submit one electronic copy (to routes@soton.ac.uk) and one hard copy of their tender to the Routes mailing address at the end of this document.
Please provide the information set out in the following paragraphs
All tenders should include the following information
- Outline details and CV of the consultant/s
- A outline of your capabilities to undertake the evaluation and a description of relevant experience
- The methodology and evaluation questions and measures you propose to use to undertake the study
- What information you will need to gather
- An outline budget (see under I below)
- The names of two referees
I. Funding
A total of £120,000 is available from January 2008 to December 2010 to carry out the evaluation of the programme.
You may bid for either the whole programme or for one of the three strands
- 9 Regional Consortia (£90,000 available for evaluation)
- 2 National Networks (£20,000)
- Governance of the programme (£10,000)
This includes office costs, travel and subsistence, VAT and overheads. Tenderers should supply a budget for carrying out the evaluation showing
- Daily rate for consultancy and number of days required per annum
- Office costs
- Travel and subsistence costs
J. References
Tenderers should indicate the names of two current or recent customers for whom you have carried out a similar evaluation and who would be prepared to act as referees.
K. Selection criteria and conflict of interest
The contract will be awarded to the most economically advantageous tender taking into account the following criteria which are not listed in order of importance:
- Effectiveness of the proposed methodology for undertaking the evaluation
- Relevant qualifications and experience
- Understanding of the background to and context of the Routes into Languages Programme
- Ability to meet the required timetable
- Management of any existing or potential conflict of interest identified by the bidder
Mailing address
Respondents should submit one electronic copy (to routes@soton.ac.uk) and one hard copy of their tender to the Routes mailing address:
Claire Wilkins
Routes into Languages Administrator
School of Humanities
University of Southampton
Avenue Campus
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
