Master of Evaluation
Master of Evaluation
The Evaluation program prepares graduates to shape the strategic direction of organisational projects and programs and design effective social interventions. Designed by the Centre for Program Evaluation, this program offers students a rare opportunity to develop the evaluation skills needed to inform programs and policies with reliable evidence, support communities…
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Evaluation program prepares graduates to shape the strategic direction of organisational projects and programs and design effective social interventions. Designed by the Centre for Program Evaluation, this program offers students a rare opportunity to develop the evaluation skills needed to inform programs and policies with reliable evidence, support communities and drive organisational change across a range of sectors and activities.
Course aims
Relying on proven methods and theories, students of this program will learn how to design and conduct sound program evaluations, develop and improve effective and efficient interventions addressing complex social issues, measure their impact and monitor their activities. You will gain the ability to increase an organisations’ evaluation capacity and, overall, support critical decision-making processes.
What is distinct about this program is that it is aligned with professional evaluation standards and practices, to give students the skills they can immediately apply to their work contexts. Whether you are currently working in an evaluation role, supervising evaluations, or seeking a career change, this multidisciplinary program can fit your needs and prepare you to confidently engage in real-world evaluation practice.
Students of this program will learn how to collect and analyse evidence to inform the delivery of successful programs, considering processes, output and outcomes, and consider various approaches to tackle the questions of value and engage with different methodological tools and traditions.
You will develop a wide-ranging understanding of evaluation literature and research including, the nature and purpose of evaluation, types of evaluations, methodologies for conducting research in evaluation, and evaluation-specific tools. You will also gain insight into the relationship between evaluation theory and contemporary practice by observing key practices and methods of data analysis.
This program encourages students to critically review important issues in the design, conduct, and use of evaluation. Students will become well-informed in using design options for maximising the impact of social interventions. You will also become well-versed in the political and social contexts of evaluation, as well as gaining insight into the economic methods of evaluation which analyse and compare costs with results.
The program is suitable for professionals, managers and funders working in diverse industries – from government to not-for-profit, healthcare, defence, international aid, community development or education to name a few. Career outcomes: There are growing professional opportunities available for graduates who complete the Evaluation program, with numerous active professional societies for evaluators worldwide. There are also moves in some countries such as Canada and the USA to certify and accredit evaluation professionals. Program evaluators assess the quality of various programs – including aid programs, health programs, education programs, charity programs, and government programs. Our graduates will be prepared for diverse leadership roles within corporate evaluation firms, educational institutions, not-for-profit organisations, philanthropic organisations, government departments, healthcare and various other sectors. You will be career ready to pursue numerous positions such as: Senior Program Planner, Senior Trainer and Assessor, Senior Internal Auditor, Manager (Planning and Performance), Senior Consultant, Senior Program Evaluator, Senior Project Evaluator, and Senior Policy Evaluator. Graduates can expect to establish successful careers within government, independent consulting, and community-based organisations, at local, national and international levels.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
Established in 1853, the University of Melbourne enjoys an outstanding reputation with world rankings, consistently being placed as Australia’s leading comprehensive research-intensive university, and is one of the world’s top 50 (as per Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015 – 2016 and Academic Ranking of World Universities 2015). There are over 80 different undergraduate study areas and over 270 graduate courses at Melbourne for students to choose from. The University has extensive global networks and has seven campus locations across Melbourne and rural Victoria.
