On having finished the course, the student will have acquired: - Intermediate level knowlege on public policy evaluation - Competences and skills to apply theoretical knowledge in conducting public programs/projects evaluations

TOPIC 1: Public policy analysis and program evaluation - Policy Analysis as an academic discipline and as a professional practice - Evaluation as analytical procedure. - Evaluation¿s values and criteria - Policy analysis and evaluation history. institutionalization of evaluation in Spain - Problem structuring, monitoring, forecasting, recommendation TOPIC 2: Evaluation: Types and theoretical perspectives - Types of evaluations (design, implementation, results/impacts) - Theoretical perspectives in evaluation (positivist paradigm and pluralistic perspectives) - The politics of program evaluation. TOPIC 3: Managing evaluations - The evaluations manager. The terms of reference (ToR). TOPIC 4: Designing and planning an evaluation - Evaluability of the interventions - Context and motivation to evaluate. - Evaluation objectives and scope. - Mapping key stakeholders and targets (beneficiaries) - The theory of the program (theory of change) - KEQ key evaluation questions TOPIC 5. Methodological approaches for evaluations - Causal attribution and impact evaluations (theory-based or counterfactual-based approaches) - Sampling techniques and experimental approaches for (impact) evaluation - Other methodological approaches for evaluation TOPIC 6: Indicators and value criteria - Indicators: elements and types - Construction of indicators and value criteria operationalization - Quality assessment of indicators (SMART, evaluation matrix). TOPIC 7 The fieldwork and data gathering techniques - The agenda or work plan (office work, field work and schedule). - Quantitative, qualitative and mixed approaches. - Techniques: observation, questionnaires and surveys, interviews, focus groups, tracking (online, social media, etc) - Other tools (participatory tool, transects, SWOT, Delphi, impact-cost relationship matrix;, scorecard, design thinking tools, etc.) TOPIC 8: Data analysis, judgments and recommendations - E. Bardach¿s Eightfold path for policy analysis (practical advice about fieldwork, data analysis, judgment and recommendations) TOPIC 9: Credibility, standards, and ethical criteria - The independence and credibility of evaluations. - Standards and ethical criteria for program evaluation practice.

Learning activities: - Practical exercises (tests, test analysis and practical case studies about the main topics of the subject). Some of them will be assessed. - Design and planning of a program / project evaluation Tutorship: Individual, on the established schedule.