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.
International Program for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET)
The International Program for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET) is an executive training program in development evaluation. From 2018 to 2024, it was managed jointly by the Center for Continuing Education at the University of Bern (Switzerland), the Center for Evaluation at Saarland University (Germany), and the Independent Evaluation Group of the World Bank. Since 2021, IPDET has been a key implementing partner of the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI).
IPDET aims to provide managers and practitioners in the field of evaluation with the tools required to evaluate policies, programs and projects at local, regional, national, and global levels, as well as to commission, manage, and especially use those evaluations for decision-making. Further information on IPDET can be found on the website: https://ipdet.org/.
Pilot project for the joint match day follow-up in German professional football
The Daniel Nivel Foundation aims to improve the relationship between football fans and the police. To that end, the foundation cooperates with national football associations and in 2018 has released funds for two pilot projects, one with the French Football Federation (FFF) and one with the German Football Association (DFB). On the German side, the following idea was developed within the so called future workshops: to establish a joint match day follow-up, to create a framework for dialogue between football fans and police. In this way, conflicts would be dealt with after match days and solutions for future events could be developed.
The DFB had commissioned CEval GmbH to provide scientific support for this project. The tasks of the CEval GmbH ranged from the conception of the project (follow-up process, selection of pilot locations, etc.) to the development of suitable instruments for fan surveys and suiting formats for match day follow-ups, as well as the support of the actors in the practical implementation and moderation of the follow-up process. Therefore, different procedures and formats for the match day follow-ups had been tested, in order to present an applicable concept after the pilot phase. All steps had been carried out in close cooperation with the DFB project team. There was also a regular, project related exchange with the Fan Projects Coordination Office (KOS) and the German Football League (DFL). The project was scheduled to run from January 2019 to May 2020. In the first half of 2019, a detailed project conception and elaboration took place, including workshops with all participating actors. In the second half of the year, during the first half of the 2019/2020 season, the developed concept for the match day follow-up had been implemented and tested in cooperation with selected pilot locations from professional football. Central partners had been the Fan Projects of the respective locations. This was followed by an evaluation and, if necessary, adaptation of the matchday follow-up concept and documentation of the project in the form of a final report.
Evaluation of the project “Digital Leadership” of the Führungsakademie Baden-Württemberg
Since March 2018, the Führungsakademie Baden-Württemberg (FüAK) has been offering the “Digital Leadership” programme. The programme comprises various advanced training formats to promote digital skills for managers in the administrative bodies of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. The aim is to prepare these managers for the requirements of digital shift, to network them with one another and to equip them with the necessary skills for driving and shaping digital change in their institutions. The program’s formats include professional training (e.g. programming, design thinking), networking events, learning journeys to innovative companies and topic-specific focus groups. The evaluation focused on the different training formats of the programme. These were evaluated in regard to their effects. The focus was on the outcome level, especially on the short- and medium-term effects of the different events. In the sense of the participatory evaluation approach of CEval GmbH, the theory of change was developed together with the project team. The effects were assessed within the evaluation using a multi-method approach. On the one hand, participant questionnaires were developed and used at the end of an event and after a defined impact phase. On the other hand, interviews were conducted with different stakeholder groups in order to obtain more in-depth assessments of relevant aspects of the programme. In this way, the advantages of both data collection methods were combined and used to evaluate the training formats.
Evaluation of refugee projects supported by the Representative of the Federal Government for Migration, Refugees and Integration
In 2019, 25 refugee projects were supported by the Representative of the Federal Government for Migration, Refugees and Integration in three areas, i.e. strengthening volunteers in refugee assistance, empowerment and prevention of violence, and political and social participation. The funding aimed at contributing to an improved integration of refugees in Germany. The goal of the evaluation was to assess the goal achievement, efficacy and efficiency of the funded projects and to develop recommendations for future funding of such projects. At the same time the evaluation was to support the projects in setting up and implementing a results-based monitoring system. The evaluation was designed as an accompanying evaluation with formative and summative elements. It also involved a capacity building component. In terms of methodology, the evaluation relied on a mix of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods. Among others, a document review, guided interviews, focus group discussions as well as an online survey were conducted.
Factors for successful cooperation in vocational training with People Republic of China – acomparison of governmental, civil and private sector concepts
The research project “Factors for successful vocational education and training cooperation with the People’s Republic of China (efach) – a comparison of state, civil society and private sector concepts” aimed to investigate for the first time whether the success factors for international vocational education and training cooperation identified in previous research work and combined into a key variable model also apply to cooperation outside of development cooperation, in the private sector and in China. General recommendations for action were generated from the quantitative and qualitative analysis of state, civil society and private sector VET cooperation and individual projects or measures were highlighted as examples of best practice. Conferences and publications promoted comprehensive dissemination, discussion and use of the findings in international VET research and practice.
Evaluation of the “Strategic Communication on Refugee and Migration Abroad” of the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
In 2016 the Federal Foreign Office (AA) initiated a new communication strategy on flight and migration abroad. This strategy consists on the one hand of direct communication measures such as a dedicated website and information on social media channels, and on the other hand of indirect communication work through project funding by partner organizations. The aim of these efforts is to contribute to a better information base on flight and migration abroad and to strengthen humanitarian and international law principles.
The aim of the evaluation was to assess the achievement of objectives, effectiveness, economic efficiency and sustainability, as well as the impact of the funded projects and the direct communication activities of the Federal Foreign Office, and to use this as a basis for deriving recommendations for future funding and strategy development. At the same time, the funded projects were to be supported in setting up and implementing impact-oriented monitoring of their projects. The evaluation contained summative and formative elements. Thus, the evaluation was intended to support AA-internal learning in the area of communication strategy on the one hand, and to serve transparent accountability on the other.
The evaluation followed a theory-based, participatory approach in which a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods of empirical social research were applied and triangulated together. The data collection included document and secondary analysis at project and programme level, guideline-based telephone interviews with persons in charge at the Federal Foreign Office, field studies in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Nigeria, expert reports, partially standardised and experimental online surveys with project partners and target groups, and the participatory evaluation of an exchange meeting with representatives of the African diaspora.
Evaluation of the “PROBONO Teacher Training” Program in Tanzania
The PROBONO Teacher Training program aims at contributing to the improvement of education quality in Tanzania as the results of national final exams indicate a great need especially in the STEM subjects. This is done by delivering a 4-year in-service capacity training in form of workshop activities, providing equipment and infrastructure in their partner schools and fostering a network of education authorities and actors.
The final evaluation was based on the OECD-DAC critieria (relevance, effectiveness, impact, sustainability) in order to derive recommendations for shaping the program´s next phase.
The evaluation utilized different methods: next to interviews with the leadership of the project, project partner and head of schools; Focus Group Discussions gave voice to teachers, students and trainers. A comprehensive survey among all participating teachers and trainers enabled an in-depth quantitative analysis.
Evaluation of the program “DLR-DAAD Research Fellowships”
Since 2008 the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the German AcademicExchange Service (DAAD) are jointly implementing a research fellowship programme with a focus on energy, aeronautics, space and transport related disciplines. The programme aims at contributing to the internationalization of DLR institutes as well as promoting researchers who maintain a relation to Germany as partners and friends. The goal of the evaluation was twofold: On the one hand, it should assess the programmes medium- and long-term effects. On the other hand, it identified potentials for improvement and come up with suggestions for necessary adaptions in view of a possible future continuation of the programme. In terms of methodology, the evaluation relied on a mix of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods. Among others, guided interviews, focus group discussions, on-site visits as well as an online survey were implemented.