My experience in evaluating learning and innovation has been developed through the following professional contexts:
TAFE unit evaluation, validation and moderation
Staff learning evaluations
Event pre and post evaluations – from delegates, sponsors and speakers.
Subject Learning Goals
The scope of my evaluation process will use contemporary evaluation theories, approaches and practices in order to develop a framework to evaluate the success of the startup education program I am currently project managing. The Pivot project is an 18 month Government funded initiative (by LaunchVic) and there are milestone goals to report on quarterly. The project data must reflect Victorian job-seekers wanting to work in a startup of scaleup environment. LaunchVic has defined values relating to diversity and inclusion so these must be considered in the evaluation process and data collected as well. The project goals are defined as follows (and are reported in a series of quarterly milestone reports):
Events, Workshops & Talent Jams
· Run at least 30 events that will provide opportunities to connect Victorian Startups and Scaleups with new talent with a target of running 50 events in total.
· The events will target 2500 registrations in total.
Learning Academy
· Develop and deliver the “Working in Startups” e-learning course and startup career exploration workshops through the Learning Academy.
· Enrol at least 500 Victorians through the “Working in Startups” course with a target of 2000 Victorians enrolled.
Top-Talent Mentor Program
· Run a mentor matching program to connect at least 30 Victorians to skilled mentors to support them in their Startup career transition with a target of 50 Victorians matched.
Experience Translator & Jobs Platform
· Develop a ‘start-up readiness’ tool, assessing cultural fit for a start-up/scale-up role
· Develop a skills-based role recommendation tool.
· Develop the digital jobs platform to target early, mid and late-stage career workers and connect talent to job opportunities in Victorian Startups and Scaleups.
· Post at least 400 roles in Victorian Startups and Scaleups with a target of 800 roles.
Subject Wrap Up
The subject Evaluate Learning and innovation was thoroughly enjoyable and really helpful regarding the project Pivott I am currently working on.
Having not studied, academically(I’m always doing a course in something!) and managing some really challenging issues at my current work, I was really pleased to complete the subject and with the quality of the delivery and content. The Theory of Change – big theory, little theory – was really helpful to frame the more detailed development for the final assessment, it anchored to the focus so I was able to be quite specific in the stakeholder groups to be part of the evaluation process and the required outcomes needed to propel the project forward and meet the required milestone KPIs.
I have communicated the valuable learning with the project lead and HR at work however there are so many issues the teams are managing my contributions are not a priority. I have shared with colleagues and we have made some adjustments to the evaluation process for commercialising the product – honing in on the talent to achieve this, and the engagement with the broader community, and providing data to support decision-making.
On a personal level it has reinforced my ambition to be more responsible for CHANGE and that I need to be in a leadership role that influences the important planning to ensure change is sustainable and tangible.
I want to thank the team at UTS for their support, particularly Veronica, who provided valuable and compassionate support when I really needed it.
I’m looking forward to Strategic Learning in Workplaces – to further understand strategic awareness in the evaluation process and genuine stakeholder engagement to do this effectively and sustainably.
UTS Portfolio - Professional & Organisational Learning 