Assessing Evaluation Education In African Tertiary Education Institutions: Opportunities And Reflections
August 2018 This article investigates the status quo of evaluation education in selected tertiary institutions in Anglophone African countries. Findings indicate that evaluation education in Anglophone African tertiary institutions is mostly in the nascent stages and there are mixed feelings on the appropriate en…
Volume 32 | Number 4 | 2018 | pages 229‒244 eISSN 1753-5913
229
ASSESSING EVALUATION EDUCATION IN AFRICAN TERTIARY
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: OPPORTUNITIES AND REFLECTIONS
P. Tirivanhu*
e-mail: ptirivanhu@gmail.com
H. Robertson*
e-mail: hanlie.robertson@gmail.com
C. Waller*
e-mail: cara.waller@wits.ac.za
T. Chirau*
e-mail: takanda.chirau@wits.ac.za
*Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results for Anglophone Africa (CLEAR-AA)
University of Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
ABSTRACT
The demand for knowledge from evaluations to inform evidence-based policy making continues
to rise in Africa. Simultaneously, there is increased recognition of the role tertiary education
institutions can play in strengthening evaluation practice through high quality evaluation education.
This article investigates the status quo of evaluation education in selected tertiary institutions in
Anglophone African countries. The article utilizes a mixed methods research methodology that
blends secondary data review, an online survey using a structured questionnaire and two regional
workshops. Data was collected from 12 Anglophone African tertiary education institutions.
Findings indicate that evaluation education in Anglophone African tertiary institutions is mostly in
the nascent stages and there are mixed feelings on the appropriate entry levels (undergraduate
or postgraduate). The study highlights the need for developing a specialized evaluation curriculum
as evaluation education still borrows from theories and methodologies from the North. Institutional,
operational and policy-related challenges are highlighted as well as the potential for collaboration
among various stakeholders in strengthening the design and implementation of evaluation
education. Key tenets for strengthening evaluation education are highlighted and discussed.
Key Words: Anglophone Africa, evaluation capacity development, evaluation education,
monitoring and evaluation, tertiary education institutions
INTRODUCTION
There is growing demand for knowledge through evaluations that informs evidence-based
August 2018
This article investigates the status quo of evaluation education in selected tertiary institutions in Anglophone African countries. Findings indicate that evaluation education in Anglophone African tertiary institutions is mostly in the nascent stages and there are mixed feelings on the appropriate entry levels (undergraduate or postgraduate). The study highlights the need for developing a specialized evaluation curriculum as well as the potential for collaboration among various stakeholders in strengthening the design and implementation of evaluation education.
Report NameAssessing Evaluation Education In African Tertiary Education Institutions: Opportunities And ReflectionsPartnerCLEAR-AAOur RoleMonitoring and Evaluation CategoriesPublications, South Africa Share