CM030 MPhil (Programme Evaluation)

BUS5037W - Masters in Monitoring and Programme Evaluation

BUS5037W and BUS5036H

Course Introduction

What is Programme Evaluation and who chooses it?

When one evaluates a programme, one asks: Is it working? Sometimes we also ask: How is it working? The answers to these questions will give us evidence about the merit or value of the programme. To get to these answers, we have to know about programme evaluation methods, research design and statistics. We also have to know about monitoring (tracking the progress of the programme) and programme theory (the way in which programmes change a problem or people). Students who acquire this knowledge may leave the programme as competent programme evaluators.

The programmes we are talking about can be social programmes (programmes which do good and change problems, like poverty, children at risk, HIV/Aids, eradication of informal settlements, domestic violence, drug addiction) or people management programmes (programmes in big companies aimed at improving lack of skills, poor performance, organisational culture, etc.). Programme evaluators find out if these programmes work and how to improve them so that they work better.

The people who choose this degree are people who want to make the world a better place by applying their high-level, scientific skills to programme improvement. They can think logically, plan systematically and solve complex problems. Programme evaluation and improvement is an intellectually challenging activity that provides intrinsic job satisfaction.

What can I do with this qualification?

Programme evaluation is one of the most useful sets of knowledge and skill that one can have.

In South Africa, there are numerous job opportunities for programme evaluators within the public sector, not for profit organisations (NGOs) and consultancies. We even have a Planning Commission within the Presidency to monitor and evaluate programme performance. Almost every national and regional public service department has vacancies for programme evaluators.  

Big donors to aid programmes in Africa (like PEPFAR, CDC, SIDA, the Worldbank, United Nations agencies, etc.) also employ programme evaluators.  

The three universities which are offering programme evaluation are searching actively for academics to teach on these popular programmes.  

Here are some of our students and the jobs they do:  

Carol Wright is the Manager: Economic Information and Research, City of Cape Town. She uses her M&E skills “to develop and implement monitoring and evaluation processes and systems for the Department and its programmes and to advise and guide other departments on monitoring and evaluation processes”.

 

Kate Emmett is the Assistant Director for Monitoring and Evaluation of Socio Economic Impacts for the Working for Water programme (Department of Water and Environmental Affairs). “Through my Masters training I am able to aid my programme in developing meaningful and measurable indicators...”

 

Karolyne Beets manages quality assurance and design processes for a leadership development programme for at-risk youth at GOLD Peer Education Development Agency. She uses the knowledge and skills from her Master’s programme to “monitor and evaluate the delivery of peer education by 35 community development organisations, in which we build capacity to implement the GOLD model” .

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