This course develops an original perspective on policy evaluation by combining a presentation of the key methods and required skills needed to be a good evaluator with a reflection on the politics and institutional organization of evaluation. Practicing policy evaluation requires a particular set of skills, which are not only methodological but also include the capacity to reflect on values, identify stakeholders and organize their participation to favour evaluation use. However, the evaluation practice can also be enriched by reflexivity on its political and institutional dimensions: who conducts evaluations? What are the political stakes underpinning evaluation practices? How is evaluation institutionalized in different contexts? Combining inputs from policy evaluation and policy analysis, this course thus reflects both on the practice and politics of evaluation. This CIVICA joint course brings together CEU, EUI and Sciences Po students. Thanks to the combination of in-depth research content and professionalization components, the course will interest students keen on working in the field of policy evaluation in the public or the private sector and more fundamental research-oriented students.
The first goal of this course is to offer insight into the methodological skills for expert, independent and responsible evaluation of public policies. The second goal is to improve understanding of the usefulness of evaluation for ameliorating governance in contemporary political systems by understanding mistakes and failures (through group work of case studies) to affect accountability and policy learning positively. Third, the course will investigate some criticisms and skepticism towards the professional evaluation of public policies from policy-takers and policy-makers.
Finally, an important objective is facilitating student and faculty interaction from all three partner institutions.
- Instructor: Thilo Daniel Bodenstein