Outline of lecture

By taking this course, students can expect to deepen their understanding of major evaluation theories, their historical background and their application in the field of international development. They can also expect to acquire basic evaluation skills through the use of case studies, performing meta-evaluation and creating evaluation proposals.

Purpose of lecture

By taking this course, students can expect to deepen their understanding of major evaluation theories, their historical background and their application in the field of international development. They can also expect to acquire basic evaluation skills through the use of case studies, performing meta-evaluation and creating evaluation proposals.

Plan of lecture

1. Outline of the course. Introduction of the basic concepts of evaluation such as policy structure and management cycle and its application to international development programs/projects.
2. Historical background of evaluation. Major evaluation theories.
3. Monitoring and evaluation utilizing a logical framework, basic concepts and methodology
4. Creating a logical framework (case study)
5. Result based management and evaluation, basic concepts and methodology
6. Impact Evaluation, its method and limitation
7. Quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluation
8. Participatory evaluation
9. Presentation and discussion: Meta-evaluation of existing evaluation reports
10. Presentation and discussion: Meta-evaluation of existing evaluation reports
11. Presentation and discussion: Evaluation proposal of a familiar subject
12. Presentation and discussion: Evaluation proposal of a familiar subject
13. Presentation and discussion: Evaluation proposal of a familiar subject
14. Wrap up discussion

Textbook and reference

Teaching Materials and presentation requirement:
There is no specific text for this course. Some references will be introduced during the course. In the last part of the course, class participants are expected to present on one of the following topics: 'Meta-evaluation of existing evaluation reports' or 'Evaluation proposal of a familiar subject'. Students must choose a subject, perform an analysis/proposal and create a presentation. Nowadays, many organizations make their evaluation reports available to the public and often can be obtained from their websites.

Related and/or prerequisite courses

Conditions for taking this course: When the course is conducted in English, participating students are expected to have a good command of the English language since the lectures, presentations and discussions are all conducted in English.

Evaluation

class attendance, positive participation in the case study work and discussion (40%), presentation and report (60%) .

Comments from lecturer

Evaluation is a very important and useful tool for both management and self-advancement. I hope you will find it interesting and worthwhile.