Evaluation of Public Policies: Learning from Comparative Experiences

Project Leader

Objective
The seminar aims to extend participants’ knowledge about evaluation systems of public policies in Europe and to improve their skills in designing, managing and monitoring evaluation activities.

Target Group
Directors or civil servants responsible for designing evaluation systems, managing and monitoring evaluations carried out by external evaluators; as well as those responsible for controlling public administrations at different government levels, and who need to develop or are interested in developing their knowledge about public policy evaluation. The seminar does not aim to train participants on how to use evaluation techniques; however, those techniques will be presented and explained with the aim of analysing the advantages and disadvantages that justify the use of some techniques above others. The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of evaluation, to learn how to design an evaluation, prepare and define the scope of work, how to negotiate with evaluators, quality control of an evaluation, etc. Experiences of institutionalising evaluation systems in different European countries will also be presented.

Description
The seminar sessions will be divided according to the following scheme: the first sessions will focus on the reasons for evaluation, on showing its critical importance in the policy formulation process, and on how to design an evaluation. The following sessions will be devoted to seeing how institutional capacity can be developed for a better evaluation through different experiences of European public administrations. The final sessions will include the evaluation in practice, the role of evaluators and various methods and tools which are regularly used in evaluation. Participants will also have the opportunity to present problems or queries on evaluation issues that they face in their own practice, and will be offered suggestions on how to address them.

Method
Presentations on real experiences, group work, debates with a practical perspective. The sessions will be complemented by referenced material and documentation that will offer an adequate source of information to those wishing to gain more in-depth knowledge.

Seminar venue
Auditorium
Catalan School of Public Administration
C/Girona, 20
Barcelona

Working language
The seminar will be conducted in English, however simultaneous interpretation into Spanish will be provided where there is a minimum of participants requesting this service

Fee
The participation fee is € 850 and includes documentation, 2 lunches, 2 coffee breaks and a certificate of attendance. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expenses of the participants or their administration.

Deadline for registration: 13 September 2010

Payment before the deadline is a condition for participation. For cancellations received after 1st February we will have to charge an administration fee of € 150 unless an alternative participant is nominated.

EIPA offers its members a reduction of 10% of the registration fee. This reduction is available to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s member countries (i.e. AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, MT, NL, PL, PT, ES, SE, UK) as well as civil servants working for an EU institution or agency. If you are eligible for a discount, please tick the box in the registration form. Please note that reductions cannot be accumulated. For more information, please visit EIPA’s website: http://seminars.eipa.eu/en/pages/display/&tid=102).

Hotel reservations in Barcelona
The EIPA-ECR will be pleased to make reservations for you at these hotels (where special rates are applied for EIPA-ECR participants):

Hotel Europark*** (Aragó, 325 - Tel.: +34.93 457 92 05, www.nnhotels.es) € 109 Double room for single use, € 135 Double room (Breakfast included) + 8% VAT
Hotel NH Podium**** (C/Bailén, 4-6; Tel.: +34.93 265 02 02; www.nh-hotels.com) € 110 Double room for single use,
€ 120 Double room (breakfast included) + 8% VAT

Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please indicate the dates of arrival and departure on the registration form. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel on checking out. Please note that if you register after the closing date, hotel reservations cannot be guaranteed.

Information and Registration
Natalia Doménech, Programme Organiser
European Institute of Public Administration –
European Centre for the Regions (EIPA-ECR)
C/ Girona, 20 / 08010 - Barcelona
Tel.: + 34/ 93 567 23 89; Fax: +34/ 93 567 23 99;
E-mail: n.domenech@eipa.eu

You can also submit the online registration form which can be found on EIPA’s web site: www.eipa.eu/regions

Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be sent to participants on receipt of the completed registration form.