OAS Hemispheric Course for the Evaluation of Policies and National Programs in Citizenship Education
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OAS Department of Human Development
Professional Development Scholarship Program
“OAS Hemispheric Course for the Evaluation of Policies and National Programs in Citizenship Education”
OAS/DHD/CIR.016/2008
1. Venue: Guatemala, city. Site to be defined.
2. Coordinator: Jorge Baxter. OAS Department of Education and Culture. Tel: (202) 458-6459. E-mail [email protected]
3. Dates: September 1st to November 1st, 2008 Online
November 3rd to November 5th, 2008 Onsite
November 6th to December 6th, 2008 Online
4. Languages: English and Spanish
5. Modality: A combination of onsite and online modes.
6. Length: 14 weeks
7. Objectives:
Main Objective: Build capacity of officials in charge of evaluating policies and programs in education for democratic citizenship and related areas.
Specific objectives:
a. Analyze theoretical and conceptual frameworks of different models and strategies for policy and program evaluation.
b. Offer tools and strategies for the evaluation of policies and programs.
c. Share best practices in evaluation of policies and national programs on the subject.
8. Program:
Description of Course Content
Module 1: Theoretical and conceptual frameworks of a range of models and strategies for evaluating policies and programs: This module consists of the presentation of key readings on the evaluation of educational policies and programs and in particular on evaluation in education for democratic citizenship. The objective of this module is to understand the basic concepts that are necessary to develop rigorous evaluations of policies and programs. This module will examine different models of evaluation, levels of evaluation, objectives of evaluations and their limitations.
Module 2: Instruments and strategies for the evaluation of policies. This module will focus on the practical tools used to carry out evaluations. It includes an analysis of the process of evaluation (design, data collection, analysis, reporting) and dissemination and various methodological requirements for the evaluation of citizenship education policies.
Module 3: Sharing of best practices in the evaluation of policies and national programs on the subject. This module consists of in-depth study of best practices in the evaluation of citizenship education policies and programs. This analysis will focus on the comparative discussion of different models and instruments of evaluation of education policies.
Description of Teaching Methodology
The course will have a distance-learning component. The methodology is participatory and centered on the particular needs of each participant as a representative of the Ministry of his or her country. Participants will have access on the virtual forum to key readings on the subject and opportunities to reflect and analyze, and discuss the actual state of the evaluation of national policies and programs in citizenship education in the hemisphere.
After two months of on-line preparation, the participants will meet in person for three days to present a critical analysis of the actual situation of evaluation of this subject in their country. A written analysis will be included in a publication on the Evaluation of National Policies and Programs on Education for Democratic Citizenship. During the meeting, the critical analysis will be discussed in order to offer ideas on how to improve weak points and overcome obstacles.
In the month that follows the meeting, the participants will develop concrete proposals to improve the existing evaluation in their countries on this subject and they will be able to receive feedback from other participants and specialists in the virtual forum.
Anticipated benefits and professional impact of the course for the participants and their respective countries:
At the Inter-American Seminar of the OAS on Good Practices in Education for Citizenship conducted in Mexico City, July 5-7, 2006, representatives of the Ministers of Education responsible for education for democratic citizenship identified evaluation as a priority area of need. The course would respond to the current gap in capacity building in this area. In addition, a key outcome from the course includes analysis of the evaluation policies by country and a plan of action aimed at strengthening regional and national cooperation focused on the particular needs of each country.
The Inter-American program will incorporate specific activities to offer long-term support to member countries in this task. For example, this first pilot will provide an opportunity to develop a conceptual framework, compile curricular contents, and identify possible “on-line” and “on-site” tutors for a future on-line course that could be offered through the Portal of the Americas and the Inter-American Program.
9. Requirements
· Be a citizen or permanent resident of one of the OAS member states, with the exception of Jamaica since is the host country.
· Complete and submit attached questionnaire
· Have a professional degree. Preferably masters/or PhD in a topic related to public policy and program evaluation, citizenship education and/or related areas.
· The ideal candidate is a member of the national technical team in charge of program and policy evaluation and/or national directors of citizenship education and related areas of one of the 34 OAS member states, in charge of national evaluation of public policy and citizenship education programs and related areas. Two years in this position is ideal or at least 5 years of work experience in a related field as well as the commitment to remain in the current position for at least two years.
· Participants should be comfortable working with computers, surfing the Web, downloading documents from Internet and interacting in on-line forums. Participants must have regular access to a computer with access to the Internet.
· Candidates must have special interest in critical analysis of national public policy and programs in citizenship education in their respective countries. Also they should have a positive attitude with the power within their reach to improve evaluation in their countries.
· The participants should have an adequate knowledge of at least English and/or Spanish
· Provide certificate of good health by physician/medical doctor
· Submit a duly completed request before the deadline established by the National Liaison Organization (ONE)[1]. The candidate is responsible for finding out the deadline set by the ONE in his/her country of residence.
10. Benefits:
OAS Department of Human Development will provide roundtrip airfare, economy class, from the fellow’s place of residence to the study place2. The Inter-American Committee on Education (CIE) and the Department of Education and Culture of the OAS will provide:
1. Health and accident insurance during the course
2. Lodging and meals
3. Local transportation
11. Responsibility of the Selected Candidates:
· Access to computer equipment and the Internet. The following technical specifications must be met:
Computer: Must be able to use the latest browsers.
Internet access: Candidates must have access to the Internet from their home or workplace. Minimum acceptable modem speed is 28.8 kbps.
Browser: The choice of browser is very important. The e-learning platform requires a browser that can run Java and Javascript. These options must be enabled on your browser.
· Selected scholarship recipients are responsible for obtaining the necessary visa(s) to enter the country of study and the corresponding transit(s). The OAS will not be responsible for any costs relating to obtaining visas or transfer documentation.
· Each scholarship recipient is responsible for arriving in time for the commencement of activities on the date established by the institution offering the course or program.
· The selected candidates must confirm their acceptance to the OAS Department of Human Development in Washington, DC., through the OAS country office in their respective countries and through the ONE in order for the OAS to proceed with making the necessary travel arrangements to purchase the air travel tickets, economy class, round-trip, between their country of origin and the study location or, if the scholarship is refused, to appoint another candidate.
· If the scholarship recipient fails to travel on the scheduled dates, or changes routes, after the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS) has purchased his/her travel ticket, he/she will be responsible for paying the difference in ticket costs in order to arrive at the course site in time. The scholarship recipient will furthermore have to reimburse the GS/OAS the total cost of the airfare for his/her travel from his/her country of residence to the site where the Professional Development Course will take place and back if, after the ticket has been purchased, he/she declines the scholarship without written authorization from the Department of Human Development. The latter includes any additional costs, if any, incurred by the GS/OAS, such as extra costs for accommodation during the scholarship recipient’s travel to and from the country where the course will be held.
[1] The deadline for presentation of applications to the (ONE) differs from country to country and should therefore be confirmed with the relevant ONE in the applicant's country of origin or permanent residence.
2 Funds for terminal and in-transit expenses are NOT provided
· If the scholarship recipient renounces, cancels or otherwise terminates the scholarship after the scholarship has begun, without showing sufficient cause to the GS/OAS, he/she will have to reimburse GS/OAS the amount of all scholarship expenses spent on his/her behalf.
12. Presentation of Scholarship Applications:
OAS scholarship applications must be submitted using OAS forms including all documentation required. Applications must be forwarded to the Organization of American States through the National Liaison Office established by the government of each country. This is a mandatory requirement.
The following is the list of National Liaison Office (ONEs) in the OAS Member states: http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/ones.aspx?culture=en&navid=282
Any questions regarding submission of applications for this course should be sent to: [email protected]
IMPORTANT NOTICE: THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS CORRESPONDING TO THE 2008 REGULAR BUDGET
Sincerely,
María Levens
Director, Department of Human Development
C.c. Course Coordinator,
Course file
JVanGlaannenweygel/LZeaYonker/Curso Hemisférico para la Evaluación de Políticas y Programas Nacionales en Educación Ciudadana/Inglés/2008
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