Building skills and creating impact: Evaluation Training for Community Consultancy

As Term 3 came to a close, a group of UCL MSc and undergraduate students were showcasing and sharing innovative solutions to the challenge of assessing social value. They had embarked on a journey through the Evaluation Training for Community Consultancy (ETC) course. Partnering with Kentish Town Community Centre (KTCC), the UCL Students' Union and a host of other contributors, this 6-week hybrid course aimed to blend academic learning with real-world application.

Creating a new extended learning opportunity

The ETC course began with a simple yet ambitious goal: to equip students with the skills needed to design and manage evaluation projects tailored to the needs of community organisations. Simple! From the very first session, students were exposed to the role of research and evaluation within the voluntary and community sector (and what that sector is!). Through interactive sessions and facilitated discussions, bringing in a host of contributors, the students gained valuable insights into how such organisations operate and the importance of demonstrating their impact. The students also learnt how challengingly evaluation can be in practice.

The focus of the course shifted to think about the (many) skills the students have – and how they could refine these skills further as ‘consultancy skills’. Students learned the importance of communicating effectively, the need for planning, but also how adaptability and flexibility are needed for any consultancy project, be that with a small community organisation or a large private sector company.

One of the highlights of the course was the collaboration with KTCC. We partnered with the community centre to tackle an evaluation challenge they are facing: assessing the social value of its activities. ETC wasn’t just an academic exercise; it was an opportunity to make a real difference. Students were supported to develop solutions and proposals to tackle this challenge. Through our sessions and a visit to KTCC the students and KTCC staff worked hand-in-hand.

Making a difference: The application of knowledge

By the end of the course, students had developed innovative solutions to help KTCC measure and enhance its social value. The sense of accomplishment was evident as students presented their findings and recommendations in our showcase and sharing event. Their work didn’t just benefit KTCC; it also provided them with invaluable experience that would serve them well in their future careers.

Student‘s reflections

Tochi Iyke, a Masters student in the Institute of Education, in Education, Practice & Society explains why they got involved and what they did:

Ryan Grant, a Masters student in the Bartlett School of Planning, reflects:

The film

To document this incredible journey, the Evaluation Exchange decided to create a short film you can watch on YouTube. It provides a glimpse into the experiential learning approach, emphasizing the value of students building and applying their skills in a real-world context. 

Beyond educational gains, it showcased the wider benefits for students, such as making a difference in the community, building networks, and enhancing employability. These networks, connections and ideas went beyond the classroom. The Evaluation Training for Community Consultancy has proven that when students, universities, and community organisations come together, the results can be truly transformative. This course has set a model for experiential learning for us at the Evaluation Exchange, and we are excited to see how we can build on this within UCL. 

More information

• Visit the Evaluation Exchange project webpage