News & blog

From principle to practice: Reflections on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

by Dr Omar Khan

For the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Dr Omar Khan, CEO of TASO, delves into the history and significance of the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, highlighting the ongoing struggle for racial equality and the urgent need for action.

A student’s perspective: Understanding and valuing neurodivergence

by Hetti Bywater

For Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Hetti Bywater, a mature psychology student and Communications Assistant at TASO explores the nuanced world of neurodivergence, challenging traditional thinking and advocating for a more inclusive society.

New report: harnessing Theory of Change to tackle ethnicity degree awarding gaps

A new TASO report explores how a Theory of Change approach can help support interventions to address the ethnicity degree awarding gap.

Mind the (ethnicity degree awarding) gap: From typologies to templates

by Advance HE: Dr Amanda Aldercotte and Dr Panagiota Sotiropoulou. Staffordshire University: Dr Sally Andrews and Kierra Bunting.

Working flexibly with six fantastic higher education providers (HEPs) helped the commissioned evaluation team from Staffordshire University and Advance HE learn more about what works when getting started with Theories of Change (ToC) and evaluation planning – it’s not always easy, but it doesn’t need to be scary.

Menstrual experiences in higher education providers: understanding and addressing the challenge

by Nicholette Pollard-Odle

Today, TASO Evaluation Officer Nicholette Pollard-Odle writes about International Women’s Day 2024 and Endometriosis Action Month 2024

Mind the (ethnicity degree awarding) gap: A changed way of seeing Theory of Change development

by Lucy Hodson, Director of Planning and Intelligence; Philippa Try, Data Analyst (Evaluation); Myles Payne, Data Analyst (Evaluation), Planning and Performance Department, Birmingham City University

Birmingham City University (BCU) is a large and diverse university with a focus on practice-based learning. At BCU, we are dedicated to developing widening participation interventions that have meaningful impact on the lives of our students and we jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the ethnicity degree awarding gap project with TASO.

Mind the (ethnicity degree awarding) gap: The importance of cross-team collaboration

by Dr Emma Thompson, Head of Enhancement, University of Southampton

The Office for Students has emphasised the importance of a whole-provider strategic approach to delivering and robustly evaluating widening access and participation initiatives. Dr Emma Thompson, Head of Enhancement at the University of Southampton, discusses some of the challenges and the university’s approach to cross-team working in tackling the ethnicity degree awarding gap, working alongside TASO as part of its Theory of Change project.

New report: The current landscape of the delivery and evaluation of student mental health interventions

Today, TASO publishes a report presenting the perspectives of those involved in the delivery and evaluation of student mental health interventions in the UK. 

Identifying barriers and enablers to generating causal evidence: key insights from a sector-wide consultation

by Dr Katie Jones; Hannah Thomson (The Brilliant Club)

Dr Katie Jones and Hannah Thomson from The Brilliant Club share insights from the TASO-commissioned consultation on the barriers and enablers to evaluating the causal impact of higher education access and success interventions.

New report: Using learning analytics to prompt student support interventions

Today TASO has published a new report looking into how learning analytics can identify students at risk of withdrawing from their studies, and prompt appropriate interventions to help with re-engagement.