Synthesis and Meta-Evaluation of Project and Program Evaluations of the Centers for German and European Studies (CGES)
In view of its long-term goal to contribute to the internationalization of the science and innovation systems in Germany, Europe and worldwide and to shaping education and research in relation to Germany and Europe, the DAAD supports interdisciplinary Centers for German and European Studies (CGES) at universities abroad. The Centers train future experts in the field of German and European Studies, among others, by offering respective study programs. They also engage in a discourse on topics related to Germany and Europe with stakeholders from science, politics, and the interested public.
To continuously improve the effectiveness of its work, the DAAD had mandated CEval GmbH with the implementation of a meta-evaluation and synthesis regarding the CGES. The object of the study were the project and program evaluations on the CGES implemented between 2015 and 2020. The task entailed a criteria-based synthesis of the findings documented in the evaluation reports as well as an assessment of the quality of the evaluations themselves (meta-evaluation). The objective of the study was, among others, to assess the effectiveness and goal achievement in relation to the CGES from a birds-eye-view, to identify potentials for improvement and to develop recommendations for the future support of the CGES as well as in view of any future CGES evaluations.
Methodologically, the study was desk-based. For the meta-evaluation, the evaluation team developed an assessment scheme as the primary data collection tool. On that basis, the evaluation reports were systematically analyzed and assessed according to a set of previously defined quality criteria and in relation to six different dimensions of analysis. Similarly, an analysis grid was developed for the purpose of the synthesis. It served to derive a coding scheme and, on that basis, implement a qualitative content analysis of the evaluation reports, which then allowed for a synthesize of the evaluation findings.
Evaluation of the German-Argentinean University Center (DAHZ-CUAA)
The German-Argentinean University Center (DAHZ-CUAA) is a binational university center that aims at promoting and strengthening the institutional, academic, and scientific cooperation between Argentina and Germany. The main objective is the creation of innovative, binational study programs with double degrees. In order to achieve this objective, there are three program lines to support universities in both countries, i.e., the German-Argentinean program to promote binational study programs with double degrees (main program line), the I.DEAR program (Engineers Germany-Argentina), and the program to promote accompanying research projects.
To gain insights into the successes, potentials for improvement, and the progress made in the three program lines and to be able to further develop the programs and to make them even more effective on that basis, the German office of the center mandated CEval GmbH in cooperation with smep consult e.U. with an evaluation of the center’s work. The mission of the evaluation was to assess the relevance, effectiveness (i.e., goal achievement and impact), efficiency, and sustainability of the center and its program lines and to put forth recommendations that allow further development and possibly improving the program lines in the future.
Methodologically, the evaluation was based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. It included the analysis of documents and secondary data, site visits in Germany and Argentina, guided interviews, group discussions and online surveys.
Accompanying evaluation of the support programme “Female Producer Collective” (2022)
The support program “Female Producer Collective” of GOFORMUSIC gGmbH is a special support project for female producers, who receive coaching in the areas of “Creativity and Idea Generation”, “Recording & Sound Design”, “Mixing & Mastering” and “Business & Marketing”. The aim of the project is to specifically promote female producers, to counteract the low quota of women in the production sector and to inspire female musicians to produce. CEval GmbH was commissioned with the accompanying evaluation of the funding project. From a methodological point of view, focus group interviews and a short survey via a standardized questionnaire had been conducted for this purpose.
Process Evaluation of the career support program ‘Securing Talents – Shaping the Future’ (2021/2022)
The program ‘Securing Talents – Shaping the Future’ of the Cusanuswerk – Bischöfliche Studienförderung aimed to promote the next generation of female leaders. To this end, the program relies on mentoring elements, i.e. tutorial support for female scholarship holders of German scholarship programs for the gifted by academics with professional experience, training and support measures geared to specific professions, and the establishment of a peer network. Since the start of the career development program in 2007, CEval had conducted external evaluations to ensure the quality of the program. An accompanying evaluation took also place in the eighth program run in 2021/2022. The central task of this evaluation was to provide the Cusanuswerk staff responsible for implementation with timely information relevant to management. In accordance with the program’s objectives, questions regarding satisfaction with the events offered, the quality of the tutorial relationships, and the professional and personal benefits of the relationship for both sides are of particular interest. Methodologically, the evaluation is based on standardized online surveys of mentees and mentors at three points in time.
Process Evaluation of the support program “Collegium Cusanum”
The program ‘Collegium Cusanum’ of the Cusanuswerk – Bischöfliche Studienförderung is aimed at all scholarship holders of the Cusanuswerk (students and doctoral candidates) as well as Altcusaner who aspire to a professional activity in the school or pedagogical field or are already doing so. The support program thus makes a sustainable contribution to the personal development and qualification of teachers and educators. To this end, the program relies on mentoring elements, i.e. tutorial support for Cusanuswerk scholarship holders by teachers and educators with professional experience. The CEval carries out external evaluations accompanying the process for quality assurance purposes. The central task of this evaluation is to provide the Cusanuswerk staff responsible for implementation with timely information relevant to control. Of particular interest, in accordance with the objectives of the program, are questions regarding satisfaction with the events offered, the quality of tutorial relationships, and the professional and personal benefits of the relationship for both parties. Methodologically, the evaluation is based on standardized online surveys of mentees and mentors at three points in time.
Framework contract for the further development and implementation of systematic results-based approaches through monitoring and evaluation for DAAD programs (2020)
The DAAD understands itself as a modern science organization that strives to continuously improve its effectiveness through continuous learning and the willingness to change its work. This approach is formulated in the DAAD’s Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Concept, which was adopted in 2019. The concept identifies institutional learning, quality assurance, results-based orientation, transparency in processes and legitimacy as important dimensions to which the various monitoring and evaluation activities are geared. Doing so, from an overarching perspective, the strategic orientation of the DAAD and its programs is also to be supported on an evidence-based basis.
The framework contract with CEval GmbH aims to meet the increasing demands for results-based orientation and control in the various funding areas of the DAAD even better by supporting the implementation of results-based orientation and control for existing and new programmes in the AA- and BMBF-funding areas and by accompanying the results-based orientation of newly designed BMZ programmes. To this end, services are provided in the following areas:
Evaluation of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s Research Fellowship Programmes for Researchers from Germany (FLF, JSPS, MOST)
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) enables highly qualified academics from all over the world to spend longer periods of research in Germany and supports the resulting academic and cultural links between Germany and abroad. The Foundation’s network now comprises over 29,000 researchers from all disciplines in more than 140 countries.
To strengthen the Humboldt Network, the AvH’s programme portfolio also includes three research fellowship programmes that support researchers from Germany to work at research institutions abroad. The BMBF-funded Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship Programme (FLF) enables German researchers to spend a longer period of time researching abroad. In this way, the existing Humboldt Network abroad is strengthened and the potential of Humboldt alumni abroad is tapped in their function as academic advisors and “door openers” for (junior) researchers from Germany. For the target countries Japan and Taiwan, the Humboldt Foundation cooperates with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST) within the framework of the JSPS Programme and the MOST Programme. The AvH also offers support services for alumni from all three scholarship programmes from the BMBF funding. These include reintegration assistance, return scholarships, renewed research stays, institute partnerships as well as annual conferences and networking events.
The evaluation is intended to fulfil two functions: On the one hand, it should provide an evidence-based foundation for the further development of the programmes in the sense of a formative evaluation. On the other hand, it is to be used to account to the funding agencies and the public for the implementation and achievement of the goals of the scholarship programmes. The evaluation focuses on the extent to which the Humboldt Network has benefited from the three programmes and whether suitable research fellows have been selected with regard to the programme goals.
The evaluation is characterised by a participatory and multi-method approach. The evaluation combines document and secondary analyses with qualitative (guided intensive interviews) and quantitative survey procedures (partially standardised online surveys).
International consultancy to conduct mapping of Early Childhood Care Development and Education (ECCDE) Centres in Eswatini
The purpose of this assignment was to support the Ministry of Education and Training in Eswatini to conduct a mapping of all early childhood care, development, and education programs (ECCDE). The mapping had been conducted on all centres that provide ECCDE services (formal and informal), including detailing critical information on location, enrollment, infrastructure, and the type of services provided. Results from the ECCDE mapping are expected to inform the development of the Education Sector Strategic Plan 2022 – 2034, including to promote the improvement of access and quality of ECCDE services across the country.
CEval is responsible for the digitalization of the questionnaire with the help of the software Kobocollect, data cleaning and statistical analysis.
Mid-Term Evaluation of the „Palestinian-German Science Bridge” (PGSB)
The program Palestinian-German Science Bridge is a pilot project financed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), which is jointly implemented by Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Palestinian Academy for Science and Technology (PALAST). It aims at establishing a joint education and research cooperation between Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Palestinian partner universities. To this end, the program combines measures focusing on student and researcher mobility, scientific exchange among faculty staff, the support of research collaborations and the reintegration of young Palestinian researchers into the Palestinian academic sector.
Forschungszentrum Jülich mandated CEval GmbH to counsel the Forschungszentrum with regard to the conceptualization of a mid-term evaluation of the program and to assist the Forschungszentrum in implementing it. The purpose of the evaluation was to assess the short- and medium-term results of the program as well as the prospects for long-term goal achievement. The objective, further, was to identify potentials for improvement in relation to the program.
Methodologically, the evaluation was based on a mix of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods. Data collection combines a document and secondary data analysis with guided interviews and semi-standardized online surveys among the project stakeholders. During data analysis, descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis were applied. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the evaluation was planned as a remote evaluation.
Alumni survey of the European School of Materials (EUSMAT)
The European School of Materials (EUSMAT) at Saarland University offers various international study programs at Bachelors, Masters and PhD level. In order to stay in touch with the alumni of these programs, EUSMAT is currently expanding its alumni activities.
To verify how well the current alumni activities fit the needs and to identify expectations of EUSMAT alumni, the EUSMAT had mandated CEval GmbH with the conceptualization and implementation of an alumni survey. The objective was to generate a data base for a further enhancement of the EUSMAT alumni work.
Methodologically, a semi-standardized survey as well as a number of focus group discussions had been designed and conducted among EUSMAT alumni.