Finding our voice:
The UKES Strategy for 2009-2010
The UKES Council has defined a strategy for 2009-2010 which sets out how it is planning to achieve its aspirations to be:
- A credible and authoritative source of information and advice on evaluation in the UK
- A key provider of CPD and training events for those involved in evaluation in the UK
- The hub of professional evaluation networks in the UK and internationally
The goal of the UKES is to:
- advance and improve the theory and practice of evaluation.
- increase understanding and utilisation of evaluation evidence and its contribution to public knowledge.
- promote cross-sector and cross-disciplinary dialogue and debate on evaluation.
In 2009-2010, the UKES will achieve these objectives through:
1. Providing a strategic voice for evaluation in the UK
2. Improving communication with members and stakeholders
3. Providing a range of professional development opportunities
4. Increasing membership
5. Providing reliable administration of the society's finances and activities.
1. Providing a strategic voice for UK Evaluation
The UKES has carried out an action-oriented consultation on current issues facing evaluation in the UK. This involved the participation of key stakeholders including evaluation funders and users across sectors - government, academic, business, voluntary sector - and across the regions and countries of the UK. This provided a forum for debate and consensus-building to take forward solutions to contemporary issues in evaluation involving members and key stakeholders in a series of events throughout the UK.
The UKES will establish an Evaluation Panel in order to ensure we involve the key actors and experts involved in evaluation in the UK from different sectors and covering a full range of evaluation methods and disciplines. This will raise the profile of the UKES and put the Society in a stronger position to be involved directly in key decisions and developments affecting evaluation in the UK.
The UKES will support the growth of international networks through developing stronger links and joint initiatives with other Evaluation Societies and the International Organisation for Collaboration in Evaluation (IOCE).
2. Improving communication with members and stakeholders
The UKES will seek to facilitate engagement and communication within the evaluation community in the UK and internationally by supporting, maintaining and improving the following services:
- A new look for the UKES website – keeping people up to date about what's happening in the world of evaluation in the UK and beyond.
- The Evaluator – giving a voice to members through the publication of a magazine 3 times a year. A particular focus in 2009-2010 will be on engaging members in contributing.
- e-bulletins – keeping members up to date with UKES activities. Regular e-bulletins will be provided; members will be encouraged to contribute news.
- Disseminating and demonstrating use of the UKES Good Practice Guidelines – the principles and frameworks for action that are useful to guide evaluation practice in different contexts.
3. Providing a range of professional development opportunities
The UKES will develop a national programme of training events. The initial focus will be on providing a small number of courses repeated in the regions and countries of the UK. Partners and funders will be sought to support this initiative.
The annual UKES Conference.
A programme of regional events run by the regional/country networks.
The facilitation of professional exchange opportunities.
4. Increasing membership
The UKES has approximately 300 individual and 20 institutional members. The activities described above, improvements to core services and additional activities to engage different stakeholders (who may be potential members) and raising the profile of UKES, will all help to build on membership. To ensure they do, we will consider membership issues as a cross-cutting theme in all our work.
In addition, the UKES will: aim to maintain membership subscription fees at current levels; undertake specific marketing activities - such as offering deals on membership renewal and offers for reduced fees for UKES activities; follow-up those who have not renewed membership; and provide an induction pack for new members.
5. Providing reliable administration of the society’s finances and activities
We will ensure financial security by maintaining a constant and reliable administrative base to underpin and develop the Society's activities.