News15 April 2026
We are working with ImpactEd Evaluation on a new project to better understand best practice in synthesising evidence.
TASO has commissioned ImpactEd Evaluation to review best practice in evidence synthesis and evidence toolkits, which are designed to translate complex information into accessible formats.
The project – led by Dr Lauren Bellaera, Director of Research at ImpactEd Evaluation – will look at how other organisations across the What Works Network and beyond approach the process of synthesising and translating research into online evidence toolkits.
The work will also review the way ‘standards of evidence’ are applied across the network, the best approaches for ensuring practitioner or expert input into relevant toolkit pages, and how AI is being used in synthesis.
The findings from the project will inform the development of TASO’s evidence toolkit, which summarises the existing evidence for different approaches to widening participation and promoting student success for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups.
Dr Lauren Bellaera, Director of Research, ImpactEd Evaluation said:
“Evidence toolkits play a crucial role in supporting higher education providers to understand what works in widening participation and student success. ImpactEd Evaluation is delighted to be supporting TASO with the development of their evidence toolkits by reviewing best practice across the What Works Network and drawing on the latest developments in research and policy. The project will not only deepen the understanding of best practice across the network but also help ensure that TASO is aligned with the most innovative and robust approaches in the field of evidence synthesis.”
Dr Rob Summers, Head of Evaluation, TASO said:
“The TASO evidence toolkit pages are consistently some of our most accessed online resources and it is important that they include relevant and robust evidence. Lauren’s work will inform their development so they remain relevant to the sector and help practitioners and evaluators use the latest evidence to inform practice.”
TASO’s evidence toolkit is designed to help the higher education sector determine the efficacy and strength of evidence for different activities to support widening participation and student outcomes.
Online evidence toolkits are used across the What Works Network to make evidence more accessible and help users understand the complexity of available evidence.