WP Evaluation Matters Community of Practice

The SCAPP Widening Participation Evaluation Matters Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of people who are carrying out evaluation work on a Scottish Widening Access or Widening Participation project or programme, and who want to commit to working together to learn how to do it better.

The first CoP launched as a pilot in December 2022. It ran throughout 2023 and concluded in early 2024. Throughout the CoP the participants learned more about evaluation practices through shared experience and a programme of guest presenters, information sessions and training events. These took place in-person and online. To conclude the CoP, participants produced Case Studies of their Evaluation Projects, and a Collaborative Report reflecting on their project using a stage of the Evaluation Cycle. These outputs were discussed at an in-person sharing event in March 2024, alongside the results of an evaluation of this CoP, and are available online below.

SCAPP remains committed to supporting the building of effective evaluation practice in Widening Access and Widening Participation in Scotland and is working with sector colleagues and partners to do this. A second SCAPP WP Evaluation Matters CoP will run throughout 2025.

Case Studies and Collaborative Report

WP Evaluation Matters Collaborative Report on the Evaluation Cycle 

 

Case Studies: 

Glasgow Caledonian University | GCU Connect  

LEAPS | LEAPS Pre-UCAS Interviews  

LEAPS | LEAPS Transitions Course  

LIFT OFF | LIFT OFF Data Project 

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland | RCS Fair Access Evaluation Project 

University of Aberdeen | Reach Aberdeen Law 

University of Glasgow | Access to HE – Skills, Support and Progression Evaluation 

University of Strathclyde | Young Strathclyder P6 & P7 Programme Pilot 

 

Thank you to all CoP members who contributed to, produced and edited these case studies and report. 

With thanks to

SCAPP would like to thank the professionals who supported this CoP and provided their time and expertise: 

 

Co-facilitators:  

Alison Browitt, University of Glasgow 

Jennie Younger, LEAPS 

 

Guest Presenters: 

Al Blackshaw, University of Strathclyde 

Alison Browitt, University of Glasgow 

Annette Hayton, University of Bath 

Dr Cathy Stone, University of Newcastle (Australia) 

Greg Brown, University of Glasgow 

Dr Laurence Lasselle, University of St Andrews 

Prof. Liz Austen, Sheffield Hallam University 

Prof. Stella Devitt-Jones, Staffordshire University 

 

Participants and contributors in this CoP came from the following organisations and institutions: 

Glasgow Caledonian University 

LEAPS 

LIFT OFF 

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland 

University of Aberdeen 

University of Edinburgh 

University of Glasgow 

University of St Andrews 

University of Strathclyde 

 

Evaluation of the CoP: 

Conducted by Alison Browitt, Dr Karen Campbell and Jennie Younger.