Overview

TASO is seeking to appoint an independent evaluator to work with a number of higher education providers (HEPs) to design an evidence-based intervention to improve the transition of disabled students into higher education (HE).

Scope

This new project seeks to encourage collaboration between HEPs to develop a blueprint for a model of evidence-based transitions support which offers potential for adaptation, implementation and evaluation across the HE sector to provide more consistent support for disabled students.

The chosen evaluator will work with a number of HEPs appointed by TASO to:

  • Facilitate engagement of staff in these HEPs with the existing evidence on transitions support (including TASO’s recent report), and their own local evidence, to build a Theory of Change for this support using TASO’s Enhanced Theory of Change tool (noting that HEPs will be required to complete development of the Theory of Change themselves).
  • Use TASO’s Enhanced Theory of Change tool, and other suitable tools/methodologies/processes, to support these HEPs to develop a model intervention which aids the successful transition of disabled students into HE:

– The intervention design will be clearly underpinned by the existing evidence and thoroughly referenced using existing sources.

– This intervention is likely to combine multiple approaches/sub-interventions which may be drawn from the existing literature or from HEPs own practice.

– This model intervention does not need to reflect what is already taking place, rather it should be a roadmap for what support should be offered in an ideal scenario.

  • Based on this Theory of Change, devise a ‘blueprint’ for the intervention which outlines how it could be adopted/adapted at other HEPs and potentially scaled across the HE sector.
  • Use this blueprint to engage with other HEPs (outside the project) to test the feasibility of this scaling and understand any challenges which need to be addressed to ensure it can be used with a variety of students in different contexts.
  • Provide recommendations about how any further roll-out/scaling could be implemented and evaluated to develop Type 3 evidence of impact.

We anticipate commissioning three HEPs to participate in this project but the exact number is dependent on the results of the commissioning process.

Please note the HEPs will also participate in a project to understand the use of reasonable adjustments and the use of disability data in HE, but that work will be undertaken by a separate evaluator (subject to a separate commissioning process) and should not overlap unhelpfully with this project.

The project will run between October 2023 and March 2024.

How to apply

To find out more about the project and details on how to apply read the full invitation to tender document (ITT) below.
Download the full invitation to tender (ITT)

We have compiled a FAQ document to support you in the application process.
Access the FAQ document

The deadline for applications to take part in this project is 10am on Monday 18 September 2023. If you have any questions you can get in touch with us over email via research@taso.org.uk.

Document accessibility: TASO is committed to making all documents accessible for all audiences. If you have any difficulty accessing the links or documents, or need these resources in another format, please email info@taso.org.uk.