Times they are a changing: evaluating interventions in a new era

This chapter will outline the University of Derby’s response to that APP
requirement of evidence-based practice to address the inequitable HE
outcomes of under-represented groups.
It will firstly share the University’s current evaluation practices concerning
access, in which the East Midlands Widening Participation Research and
Evaluation Partnership (EMWPREP) plays such a key role. It will then
move on to demonstrate how the University has utilised Theory of Change
to embed evidence-based practice across the whole student lifecycle, and
discuss the methods and methodologies that will be adopted within a new
framework to evaluate interventions, and identify new areas for research.
The chapter concludes by reflecting on key areas of focus required by
the University through the 2019-2020 academic year, in order for the
institution to be well equipped to meet its APP reporting requirements
when the first monitoring return is due in spring 2022. It will also reflect
on the challenges that the institution faces (as well as the sector as a whole),
in order to fulfil OfS expectations.

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