Annual Conference 2003

Last updated 16/10/03

9th UKES Annual Conference
Evaluation: Strengthening its Usefulness in Policy-making and Practice
1-3 December 2003
Cardiff City Hall

Conference Programme (download)
Conference booking form (download)
Accommodation booking form (download)

The over-arching conference theme focuses on the usefulness of evaluation in policymaking and practice. This is especially timely as the policy world is increasingly seeking to commission and utilise evaluations advocating evidence based policy.The conference will explore a number of themes related to evidence based policy making, the usefulness of evaluation, and professional issues. We also encourage papers on the international spread of best practice in evaluation. The conference will examine ways of improving the utility, relevance, and added value of the evaluation process. Attention will also be given to the potential benefits from an integrated and learning focused evaluation framework in policy.

Keynote speakers

  • Professor Carol Weiss, Harvard University - When Evaluation Influences Decisions: How Does It Happen?
  • Robert Picciotto, World Bank, New evaluation standards for a new century (download)
  • Professor Steve Martin, University of Cardiff, Evaluation, inspection and the improvement agenda
  • Professor Ian Sanderson, Leeds Metropolitan University, Getting evidence into practice: perspectives on 'rationality'
  • Professor Sandra Nutley, University of St Andrews, Improving research utilisation. Is knowledge management the answer?

Conference themes and theme convenors

There are six Parallel Themes containing papers and roundtables. Abstracts for papers will be reviewed for acceptance by theme convenors:

Pre-conference Practitioner Workshops, 1 December

(Convenor: Bill Fear)
Five Practitioner Workshops will be run during the afternoon of 1 December 2003 Workshop abstracts (download)

  • Economic Evaluation (Stephen Hill)
  • How evaluation can reflect the nature of community development (Helen Bushell)
  • Practitioner perspectives on development evaluation: The IDEAS workshop (Sulley Gariba)
  • Programme Logic Modelling (Bill Fear)
  • Communicating research to practice: skills and techniques (William Solesbury)

Discussion fora

This year we have begun to examine the future directions for the UKES as a professional organisation and encourage you to participate in various sessions which are aimed at building on what has been achieved so far by the society and ensuring continued relevance for the future. There will be two Discussion Fora in which you are invited to participate:

  • Sharing dilemmas in practice
  • Shaping the future of the UKES.

IDEAS Conference bursaries in partnership with DFID

We are pleased to announce that through a generous donation from DFID in UK, we are able to offer some bursaries to IDEAS members to attend the UK Evaluation Society Conference in 2003. Those IDEAS members who wish to apply for a Conference Bursary should complete the Application Form (download). The closing date for applications is 20 October 2003.

Student discounts

Full time students who are presenting a paper may be able to receive a discount in their conference fees if they are able to help out at the conference. A limited number of discounts will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Proof of student status is required. Please contact Fiona House

Conference organising committee

Sarah Batterbury, Richard Thurston, Bill Fear, Helen Bushell, Barbara Atton and Fiona House
UKES Conference Administrator: Fiona House
The Oganising Committee welcome any comment on the proposed content and suggestions for making the conference a success. Contact Richard Thurston , Sarah Batterbury , Bill Fear or Helen Bushell

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Sponsorship and display space at the UKES Conference

Those interested in sponsorship of the conference or in access to display space should contact Helen Bushell

We also welcome corporate sponsorship to sponsor specific items during the conference. Please contact Helen Morrell for more information