The Evaluation Advisory Group, Academic Advisory panel, and Research and Evaluation Committee provide TASO with guidance on methodology and approaches to evaluation.
The members play a vital role in shaping TASO’s work by producing timely, rigorous and appropriate evidence of what works to support young people’s journeys into and during higher education.
Evaluation Advisory Group
The Evaluation Advisory Group brings together sector representatives with experience in evaluation to build a comprehensive understanding of the current state of evaluation in the sector. The group recommends the most effective ways to disseminate evaluative findings to practitioners and assesses TASO’s research and evaluative output by prioritising accessibility, comprehensibility and applicability of findings for the wider sector.
Members
- Fiona Cottrell, Evaluation and Data Manager, University of West of England
- Dr Jemma Basham, Strategic Lead for Access and Participation, University of Cumbria
- Jenny O’Hare, Programme Manager: Strategic Review of Mental Health Provision, University of Cambridge
- Dr Julian Crockford, Student Experience Evaluator and Researcher, Sheffield Hallam University
- Liz Hurley, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, University of Leeds
- Naomi Clements, Senior Teaching Fellow in Academic Practice, University of Southampton
- Naomi O’Brien, Research and Evaluation Coordinator, University of Bristol
- Dr Simon Lewis, Director of Strategic Planning and Business Intelligence, University of Greenwich
- Matthew Horton, Evaluation Manager, University of Wolverhampton
- Jack Walker, Monitoring, Evaluation & Student Data Officer, University of Manchester
Research and Evaluation Committee
The committee consists of nationally recognised experts in evaluation and methodology, particularly in the areas of education and higher education. They assure that TASO’s Research and Evaluation activities are carried out to a high standard.
Members
- Susannah Hume, King’s College London
- Professor Simon Burgess, University of Bristol
- Dr Sonia Ilie, University of Cambridge
- Professor Dr Billy Wong, University of Reading
- Professor Gabriella Cagliesi, University of Sussex
- Professor Dr Anna Mountford-Zimdars, University of Exeter
- Dr Nikki Shure, University College London
- Professor Denise Hawkes, Anglia Ruskin University
- Dr Susila Davis, University of Oxford
- Associate Professor Dr Paul Campbell, University of Leicester
Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisory Group
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisory Group focuses on both policy and practice in student mental health and wellbeing in support of TASO’s three flagship projects this year:
- Randomised controlled trials to evaluate wellbeing interventions prompted by analytics
- The evaluation of mental health and wellbeing interventions using theory-based methods
- The evaluation of mental health interventions using quasi-experimental designs
The group will discuss key themes and ideas relating to the projects and inform TASO’s broader thinking in student mental health.
Members
- Ali Coleman, Student Support & Wellbeing Manager, Northern School of Contemporary Dance
- Sara Gallagher, Head of Student Wellbeing Services, Bath Spa University
- Jonathan Dempsey, Service Operations Manager (Interim), Imperial College London
- Jane Harris, Co-Director of Student Welfare and Support Services and Head of Counselling, University of Oxford
- Celia Johnson, Student Support Manager, Arts University Bournemouth
- Professor Deborah Johnston, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, London South Bank University
- Dr Simon Merrywest, Director for the Student Experience, University of Manchester
- Dr Gary McGladdery, Disability Services Manager, Nottingham Trent University
- Ronald Mutambirwa, Psychotherapist and Facilitator, University of Sheffield