An introduction to the EES Voluntary Evaluator Peer Review (VEPR)

Next step in enhancing professionalisation Determining the knowledge and skills base Capabilities Framework Determining ethical standards Ethics guidelines Clarifying acceptable levels of competence Practice standards Professional development Developing the individual practitioner

Kolb’s reflective cycle Professional activity and experience Reflect critically on experience Explore underlying principles and other practice options Plan action/revision based on principles and learning

VEPR discovery process (Enhanced) Professional activity and experience Reflect critically on experience Explore underlying principles and other practice options Plan action/revision based on principles and learning “What? So what? Now what?”

VEPR Charter of Principles Voluntariness Willing participation, no obligation Autonomy Review by evaluation practitioners, for evaluation practitioners Legitimacy Explicit capabilities framework endorsed by EES members Pluralism Responsiveness to diverse roles, cultures, levels of experience and theoretical/methodological preferences Transparency Public access to review governance and guidelines Quality assurance Impartiality; reviewer training and selection process

The VEPR process START POINT Qualifying experience + Capabilities Framework Application for peer review Identify capabilities for review Follow-up after 3 years Reviewee listed in VEPR online Index Select relevant reviewers Report on reviewee’s learning Identify practice & PD options Face-to-face review meeting

VEPR focus and objectives The VEPR approach does not seek to judge a practitioner’s evaluation capabilities or competence, but rather to explore their willingness to engage in a rigorous, structured, peer-facilitated professional review that is focused around self-identified areas for professional development.

Potential benefits Individual Evaluation community Institutional Professional development aspirational and normative Professional association facilitating relevant PD Ongoing regular PD through habit of reflection

VEPR design, systems processes Why pilot the VEPR? VEPR design, systems processes Forms, processes Admin & manage’t Reviewer competence Review process Reporting on learning Listing

 Your Society needs you! Volunteers – reviewees and reviewers - will be… Range of age, gender, culture, nationality Range of evaluation practitioner roles Reasonably proficient in English (for 1st round) Able to commit approx 6 hours during Nov-Feb Interested to be a reviewee, and possibly a reviewer Reviewer volunteers will, having completed a VEPR review,… Undertake approx 4 hours online training Go through a selection process, including a 15 minute interview with the VEPR Coordinator

Contacts For further information, please contact members of the EES VEPR Working Group: Pam Oliver (VEPR Coordinator) pamo@clear.net.nz Weronika Felcis weronika.felcis@gmail.com Aida El-Khoury de Paula akpaula@hotmail.com Carlos Rodriguez Ariza rariza@hotmail.com Riitta Oksanen riitta.oksanen@formin.fi