Expert panel to advise on an evaluation framework for Learning and Teaching

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is seeking expressions of interest from individuals to join an expert panel to advise the Council on the development of an evaluation framework to inform their work in the Learning and Teaching Directorate (please see the attached information sheet for a short description of this work).

We are looking for 10-12 people who can demonstrate they are suitably experienced and qualified to carry out such a function. Expertise in evaluation is a prerequisite for membership of the panel, and we would particularly welcome expressions of interest from those who have had previous involvement in policy-related evaluative work (in the public sector more generally, not merely in education/HE), and experience of engaging with uncertainty and contentious areas where sensitivity to a changing policy environment is important.

The panel will have a minimum of three meetings, probably in London, between January and March 2005. As well as attending meetings, we would also welcome short expert papers that draw on and interpret existing literature, concepts and evidence which will help us to think round theoretical and empirical issues associated with evaluation linked to policy development. Although we are not able to pay panel members, we will meet all travel and subsistence costs at our normal rate.

If you are interested in joining the panel, please provide a one-page summary of how you meet the above specification, together with a short curriculum vitae. Expressions of interest should be sent by midday on Monday 17 January 2005 to Dr Sheila King, HEFCE, Northavon House, Coldharbour Lane, BRISTOL BS16 1QD or e-mail [log in to unmask] 

 
Higher Education Funding Council

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) was set up by the Government in 1992 to administer public funds for higher education in England. We allocate most of the money directly to universities and higher education colleges; some also goes to further education colleges to support their higher education programmes.

As a non-departmental public body, we have some autonomy from the Government. We work within a policy framework set by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, but we are not part of the Department for Education and Skills. We provide independent and confidential advice to Government on the funding needs and development of universities and colleges, contribute to forming policy, and act as an advocate for the higher education sector.

In 2004-05, we will distribute £6 billion in public funds. This money supports four main areas of activity in higher education: 

*       teaching and learning
*       widening participation of under-represented groups
*       research
*       strengthening links with business and the wider community.

Learning & Teaching Directorate

Our strategic aim for learning and teaching is to ensure that all higher education students benefit from a high-quality learning experience fully meeting their needs and the needs of society (please refer to http://www.hefce.ac.uk/learning/ for further information). 

In 2004-05 we will distribute funding of £3,825 million as recurrent grants to support learning and teaching in universities and colleges. We also fund several special initiatives in support of our strategic aim. These include;
*       The Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) initiative, which has two main aims: to reward excellent teaching practice, and to further invest in that practice so that the funding delivers substantial benefits to students, teachers and institutions.
*       The Higher Education Academy, which was established in 2003 to: advise on policies and practices that impact on the student experience; support curriculum and pedagogic development; facilitate development and increase the professional standing of all staff in higher education.