NB: This project has two strands and we will be appointing two separate evaluators to work on each strand.

Overview

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

Scope

This new project seeks to encourage collaboration between higher education (HE) providers 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 HE providers appointed by TASO to:

  • Facilitate engagement of staff in these HE providers 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 proivders 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 HE providers to develop a model intervention which aids the successful transition of disabled students into HE.
  • Based on this Theory of Change, devise a ‘blueprint’ for the intervention which outlines how it could be adopted/adapted at other HE providers and potentially scaled across the HE sector.
  • Use this blueprint to engage with other HE providers (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.

The project will run between September 2023 and February 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.
Access the full invitation to tender document (ITT)

The deadline for applications to take part in this project is 5pm on Friday 4 August 2023. If you have any questions you can get in touch with us over email via research@taso.org.uk.

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