What is it and what have we done?
VEPR is a voluntary structured professional practice review. Applicants self-assess their capabilities and select two or three topics from recent work to discuss with two approved peer reviewers. The reviewers are experienced evaluation practitioners who have undergone a peer review process themselves.
The discussion lasts around 90 minutes and a short note is agreed with suggestions for follow-up including continuing professional development. The names of people successfully completing a review will be listed on the UKES website.
UKES designed the approach in collaboration with the EES during 2015 and pilot tested it with 12 volunteers early in 2016.
The UKES Peer Review System differs from designation or credentialing adopted by some evaluation societies. It is also not about training in skills. Its primary purpose is to facilitate regular and personalised professional development through open-ended reflection as opposed to validation of competency against a checklist.
The volunteers in the initial pilot found the process to be valuable for reflecting on their practice in the field and assessing their level of capability on different issues in the process of evaluation. Reviewees discovered shared issues and problems, felt that support from reviewers helped build confidence and thought that the process gave them the opportunity to develop professional self-accountability.
The approach does not seek to judge a candidate's evaluation capabilities or competence, but rather their willingness to submit to a professional review structured around a capabilities framework.
UKES Council is now planning to extend the trial on a larger scale in 2017, reviewing more people and employing a paid Coordinator. This is open to all individual and institutional members of the Society. We would like your feedback on taking this step forward. Please take time to read about the VEPR and let the Society know if you think it is a good idea and are interested in participating.
For recipients who have not read about this pilot exercise before, a short summary of the concept and the process can be read here. A copy of the presentation at the 2016 UKES Conference can be read here.