CAS in public policy evaluation

Evaluations assess states’ measures with respect to their effectiveness, efficiency or fitness for purpose. In doing so, policy evaluations have established themselves as an independent discipline. In Switzerland, evaluations are increasingly institutionalized and have acquired a significant status in policy-making.

In order to influence the decision making process, evaluators must not only have the necessary skills to conduct reliable and useful evaluations, but they also must deal with evaluation practice at a higher level of analysis.

This course has a clear interdisciplinary focus and it is primarily offered to increase the professional practice of evaluations.

The course includes various teaching methods such as presentations, case studies, group work, debates, role games, microteaching. The class is provided by external speakers at IDHEAP as well as by the Institute's professors.

A Particular attention is paid to the practical application of the teaching by the participants.

At the end of the course, the participants :

• understand the concept of an evaluation and how it distinguishes itself from other approaches (e.g. monitoring, audit, quality management);
• are able to plan and realize an evaluation;
• are familiar with program theories and evaluation approaches;
• know the most important methods to measure effectiveness, efficiency and the purpose of public interventions;
• understand the role of evaluation in the political system of Switzerland and know the motivation behind its demand and use;
• recognize the significance of evaluations in practice and how they can enhance their impact.

The course is aimed at individuals who lead evaluation teams, who are responsible for the management of evaluations, or who work in consulting or research area. Moreovoer, we welcome all participants of the MPA as well as any person with a particular interest in the discussed topics.

• Ms. Marion Baud-Lavigne, Project Manager / Evaluator, Parliamentary Control of the Administration      
• Prof. Pirmin Bundi, Assistant Professor, IDHEAP, University of Lausanne
• Dr Tereza Cahlikova, Research Fellow, IDHEAP, University of Lausanne
• Dr Nicolas Grosjean, Director of the Interface office in Lausanne
• Dr Daniela Eberli, Scientific Collaborator, Parliamentary Services of the Federal Assembly       
• Dr Lyn Pleger, Project Manager and Research Fellow, ZHAW
• Prof. Frédéric Varone, Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Geneva / Deputy Magistrate at the Court of Audit of the Canton of Geneva
• Prof. Sophie Weerts, Associate Professor, IDHEAP, University of Lausanne

Participants who actively and regularly attend the course, and complete the course project, will be awarded a Foundation of Continuing Education certificate of continuing education/Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Public Administration (with a specialisation in CEMAP). This corresponds to 10 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits. Participants who follow the course but decide not to complete the project work will receive a certificate of attendance (but no ECTS credits).

Total course registration fees come to CHF 3,900 (including all documentation), which should be paid on receipt of the invoice, and by the start of the course at the latest.
A discount of 5%, up to a maximum of CHF 500 per course, is available to any IDHEAP alumni—holding an MPA, DAS or CEMAP, an IDHEAP PhD or a Master’s in PMP—who wish to follow a CAS course or a Seminar for Specialist and Executives organised by IDHEAP. This reduction does not apply to participants in the DAS who subsequently wish to follow the MPA course. Any decision to withdraw from the course must be made in writing. If withdrawal from the course is announced between 21 and ten days prior to its commencement, 50% of the registration fee will remain due. If withdrawal from the course is announced less than ten days before its commencement, the entire registration fee is due. The number of places being limited, registrations will be considered on the basis of the date of receipt.