The Course

Overview

“Pragmatic Evaluation in Physical Activity and Health” is a charitable organisation that was formed by its Co-Directors (Dr Paul Kelly, Dr Karen Milton, and Dr Justin Richards) in 2015 to meet an identified need in the sector globally.

While some training courses were available in physical activity and health, these courses mainly focused on topics such as epidemiology and measurement. Prior to the establishment of Pragmatic Evaluation, there were no courses specifically designed to build capacity in evaluation of physical activity initiatives.

Since its establishment, “Pragmatic Evaluation in Physical Activity and Health” has developed two types of courses that have been adapted to the needs of the target audience.

programme

The first of these is a 3-day course that brings together physical activity researchers, practitioners and policy makers. Attendees are selected through a competitive application process that identifies a group of 15-30 participants most appropriate for the course content and ongoing collaboration. Scholarships are made available to ensure these courses are globally accessible.

The second is a tailored 3-day course commissioned by relevant organisations interested in improving evaluation capacity and quality. Attendees are selected by the host organization to be a group of participants most appropriate for the course objectives. The number of participants is dependent on the needs and objectives of the host organization.

Content

We tailor the content to meet the needs of each course, but previous courses have covered the following topics:

Planning for Evaluation
Formative Evaluation (including logic models)
Evaluation Design
Process Evaluation
Outcome/Impact Evaluation
Mixed methods
Complex Programme Evaluation

What do you get?

Our courses generally include:

The 2-3 days of face to face training
Combination of individual and group tasks to achieve learning outcomes
Learning and networking with experts and fellow participants
A copy of the textbook ‘Evaluation in a Nutshell’ by Adrian Bauman and Don Nutbeam
A certificate of completion
Access to our members area of the website where we share resources and network with course alumni
PDF of the full course slide set after the event

Delegates take away from the course practical activities to undertake with stakeholders to help improve future evaluation activities. The course has also led to many collaborations and friendships.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the course for?

We aim to have a diverse group of researchers, practitioners and policy makers on our courses. Broadly, we think the course is relevant to anyone who is planning, conducting, commissioning or utilizing evaluation in physical activity or sport.

We strongly encourage applicants from low, middle and high-income settings to apply. If you are not sure if the course is for you please contact us and we would be happy to chat.

How much does it cost?

The course fee varies based on local costs. We give the cost in NZD as that is where we are a registered as a not-for profit charitable entity and conduct our banking. In 2019 (our most recent course) the cost was NZ$1550. This fee does not include accommodation costs.

What’s included in the fee?

Course fees include course materials, lunches and dinners on each day of delivery, refreshments, and a copy of Evaluation in a Nutshell textbook. Participants are required to organise their own travel and accommodation and cover these costs themselves.

We have previously made scholarships available for people who are accepted onto a course, but unable to cover the costs of attending. Requests for scholarships are handled on a case-by-case basis

How long does the course last?

Our standard model is 2.5-3.0 days. We generally aim to match typical working patterns in the host country in terms of start and end times. There is usually an informal and optional dinner each evening (according to local facilities) for networking, socialising and reflection on the day’s content.

What background knowledge or experience do I need?

A basic understanding of and/or professional experience in physical activity, exercise, sport and health is likely to make the course far more relevant. As a guide, participants usually have 2-10 year’s experience across policy, practice or research/academia.

Participants bring a broad range of experiences from across the physical activity sector and this mix is a key part of the learning that happens during the course. If you have any concerns about whether your experience level is appropriate, please contact us.

What is the application process?

Once a course becomes available, we will email registered candidates with a link to the application. If you are interested in registering your interest for the next course, please register here. We aim to open applications 3-4 months in advance. You are asked to complete an application form that includes describing an evaluation you are working on (or plan to work on in the future).

We assess all applications against established criteria and inform applicants if they have been accepted. For courses where we receive more strong applications than we have places, applicants may be placed on a waiting list, in case anyone withdraws.

It is a competitive process and we encourage you put time into preparing your application (historically approximately 60% of applicants have been successful).

Will you issue invitation letters?

We can provide invitation letters if those are needed for travel visa applications or other institutional reasons.

Are there any scholarships available?

Yes, please see our Scholarships page.

How many participants do you have on a course?

Courses vary in size from 10-30 participants, based on level of interest (i.e number of applications), quality of applications, and available teaching space at the host organisation. We intentionally keep our courses small to ensure a personable learning environment.

Do participants get any CPD points?

We are not registered for CPD accreditation, but all participants get a Certification of Completion.

The Pragmatics

The course is delivered by ‘The Pragmatics’ (Paul, Karen and Justin) and international colleagues. The additional faculty varies by course depending on location and availability. Where possible we invite local experts to join the faculty to present context specific case studies.

The course is ideal for academic researchers who are interested in the practical application of their work and/or for employees of government and non-government entities who aspire to rigorously evaluate their programs and policies or who wish to understand how to work most effectively with external evaluation partners.