Dr Shaun Boustani, Senior Research Fellow, Research Department of Medical Education, University College London Medical School
Dr Shaun Boustani, Senior Research Fellow at University College London Medical School explores how widening access to medical schools could help tackle NHS doctor shortages. He discusses Sutton Trust findings on structural barriers facing disadvantaged applicants and calls for reforms like contextual admissions and alternative entry routes.
Dr Omar Khan, CEO at TASO, discusses how higher education can meaningfully address inequality through better implementation, rigorous evaluation, and stronger public narratives. Reflecting on insights from TASO’s fifth annual conference, he calls for a renewed, evidence-based commitment to social mobility, urging the sector to act on what works, not just what’s said.
Alisha Collins, Senior Communications and Engagement Officer at TASO, reflects on how this year’s annual conference has been shaped by the sector – for the sector. From launching a new Events Advisory Group to introducing peer-driven formats like Home Groups and a sector-wide Poster Session, Alisha shares how collaboration and shared challenges are driving a fresh approach to evaluation conversations in 2025.
Luke Arundel discusses making an impact at scale, as part of TASO’s project with the Policy Institute at King’s College London and Exogeneity. The project supports a new initiative to scale behavioural insights, building on a previous study to turn evidence into action.
Tatjana Damjanovic introduces TASO’s upcoming resource–the Higher Education Evaluation Library (HEEL)–which aims to bring together evaluations on access, participation, and student success in one easy-to-use, searchable platform to support a culture of shared learning and improve practices across the sector.
Pete Crowson, Evaluation Manager at TASO, teases a new tool designed to take the stress and confusion out of building a theory of change. Whether you’re staring down a blank page or wrestling with templates, TASO’s upcoming interactive tool will guide you step-by-step – from initial idea to fully-formed Enhanced ToC.
Demonstrating that an intervention works requires estimating both the actual outcomes and the counterfactual – what would have happened without the intervention. Dr Rob Summers discusses methods including randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs and matching.