EASY-ECO Saarland Training

Structure of the training course

Each EASY-ECO training consist of three phases:

e-learning
on-site case training
virtual follow-up

1) e-learning

The e-learning phase will start July 1 and last until September 12, 2008. Approximately 40 young researchers are going to be accepted into the e-course. It is designed to require time investment of approximately 60 to 80 hours of asynchronous course work and is structured into topics such as specifics of sustainability evaluations, theory-based evaluations, identifying and involving stakeholders in an evaluation, primary and secondary data collection, analysis and integration, communication in an evaluation cycle and market overview.

The ‘e-learning team’ will support the young researchers throughout the entire virtual phase, facilitate their discussions and interaction with evaluation experts and monitor learning progress. Based on their performance in the first half of the e-course approximately 80 to 90 per cent of trainees will be awarded with EU-grants to cover their participation in the on-site training.

2) on-site case training

The on-site case training will take place 20-24 October 2008 in Saarland, Germany, and is organised by the Center for Evaluation. It will provide hands-on experience with case studies of actual sustainability evaluation projects. Each of the eight on-site case trainings will consist of three parallel working groups of 10-15 young researchers and will focus on a specific topic. Three experienced evaluators as case trainers and scientific tutors will guide the participants through the different steps of an evaluation according to the structure outlined below.

	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
9:00 – 10:30	Introductions	Developing quality checklists	Developing an evaluation design, choosing methods	Performing data collection	Formulating and delivering evaluation findings and recommendations
Coffee break 10:30 – 11:00
11:00 – 12:30	Introducing the background of the case study, analysing a call for an evaluation	Stakeholder analysis and involvement strategy	Developing an evaluation design, choosing methods	Performing data collection	Formulating and delivering evaluation findings and recommendations
Lunch 12:30 – 14:00
14:00 – 15:30	Introducing the background of the case study, analysing a call for an evaluation	Stakeholder analysis and involvement strategy	Writing an offer, including a budget, analysis of the actual offer	Analysis of data, aggregation and weighting	Official conclusion of the training, reflection
Coffee break 15:30 – 16:00
16:00 – 17:30	Choosing an evaluation approach	Designing a communication strategy	Writing an offer, including a budget, analysis of the actual offer	Analysis of data, aggregation and weighting	Departure

3) virtual follow-up

The training is concluded by a 3-month virtual follow-up phase. During this time, the young researchers are able to work on their own projects (e.g. a paper, case study, country survey, theoretical paper) and have the chance to receive individual scientific support from the Advisory Board, as well as their trainers. Abstracts of their projects can be submitted and the best papers presented at one of the following conferences.

Introduction

Training Theme & Target Group

This EASY-ECO Series Event is sponsored by:

EASY-ECO | EvAluation of SustainabilitY - European COnferences & Training Courses

(c) 2004-2024 RIMAS — Research Institute for Managing Sustainability (co-ordinator)
Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU)
Franz Klein Gasse 1
A-1190 Vienna