Evaluation of SAIH’s Norec Exchange Programme
Funding
South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
2021
Higher Education I Gender & Inclusion
Evaluation & Monitoring I Strategy Development & Review
Introduction
Paeradigms conducted an extensive evaluation of the 2018- 2021 exchange programme initiated by the Norwegian entity SAIH with partners across multiple countries, focusing on student engagement and academic freedom in the higher education sector.
Objectives
Paeradigms was brought in to:
Assess the exchange programme’s relevance and effectiveness concerning partner needs.
Understand the programme’s impact at various levels: individual, organisation, and society.
Evaluate outcomes against the set expectations and framework.
Provide recommendations for future agreements, addressing challenges in all participating countries.
Background
Over recent years, SAIH has prioritised the higher education sector, collaborating with 31 partners across seven countries. Funded primarily by donations and contributors such as Norad and Norec, the partnership concentrated on promoting human rights, academic freedom, and equitable higher education. The programme’s emphasis was on strengthening student engagement and creating long-term networks.
Approach
Paeradigms’ methodology involved:
Change dynamics analysis: Applying the Theory of Change Framework to evaluate alterations across societal, institutional, and individual tiers.
Comprehensive integration: Adopting a participatory mixed method, ensuring an all-encompassing grasp by amalgamating diverse data sources.
Diverse data tools: Using multiple data collection methods such as desk reviews, comprehensive interviews, and the Most Significant Change narratives to derive practical insights.
Outcome
Paeradigms successfully delivered:
An evaluation report offering insights into the programme’s effectiveness, relevance, and impact.
Recommendations for future programme phases based on comprehensive analysis.
An in-depth understanding of the programme’s success stories, challenges, and areas of improvement.