Further Particulars
This document includes information about the role for which you are applying and the
information you will need to provide with the application.
1. Role details
Vacancy reference:
8721
Job title:
Research and Evaluation Officer
Reports to:
Centre Manager (Research and Information)
Salary:
£30,424 - £36,298 (pro rata)
Terms and conditions:
Academic-Related
Grade:
7
Duration of post:
Permanent
Working hours:
22.2 hours per week (0.6 FTE)
Location:
Milton Keynes
Closing date:
midday 7th February 2013
Type of application form accepted:
Long Application form
Please use the items listed in the Person Specification as subtitles within the relevant section
of the application form. Examine carefully the description of the role and analyse how your
skills, knowledge and experience match with the requirements set out in the person
specification. Please pick out specific examples from your experience which clearly
demonstrate that you have the particular knowledge and capabilities required.
Number of referees required:
2
Unit recruitment contact:
Caroline McCrohan
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January 2010
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2. Summary of duties
The Research and Evaluation Officer will work in the Access and Curriculum Team of the
Centre for Inclusion and Collaborative Partnerships and support the implementation of key
Open University activity such as the Widening Access and Success Strategy and the
Access to Success Route through monitoring and evaluating both institutional trends and
dedicated widening participation projects and initiatives and ensuring that findings are
used to inform the on-going development of widening participation activity across the
University.
1. To monitor institutional progress towards targets identified in the University’s
Widening Access and Success Strategy, designing and delivering periodic reports
drawing on a range of institutional sources including Information Office statistics,
highlighting key trends and possible reasons for these.
2. To work collaboratively with the Assistant Director, Widening Access and Success
Services, Student Services to design and deliver evaluation of Widening Access
and Success services (including disabled student services, offender learning and
other priority groups under the strategy).
3. To collect and analyse quantitative and qualitative data from specific widening
participation initiatives across the institution in order to evaluate their impact and
cost effectiveness, to make recommendations for future development and to input
into institutional reports and returns to the Office for Fair Access and the national
Funding Councils.
4. To work collaboratively with CICP academic staff and the Centre Manager
(Research and Information) to assist colleagues engaged in widening participation
activity across the institution to set up new initiatives within an action research
framework, and to undertake their own evaluation.
5. To ensure that evaluation activity is undertaken from a range of different
perspectives, including those of the University, partner organisations and students.
This may include piloting new approaches to evaluation (e.g. using students) and
securing external resources to fund this.
6. To support the Centre Manager (Research and Information) in acting as a key
point of contact for colleagues in relation to widening participation evaluation and
research, including internal and external dissemination of findings.
7. To work with the Centre Manager (Research and Information) and Deputy Director
(Access and Curriculum), CICP, to prioritise projects and themes for evaluation
and make recommendations about possible ways of approaching these.
8. To build on existing networks with relevant staff across the University, including
those in Student Services, Information Office, the Institute for Educational
Technology (IET) and Regional and National Centres and to build relationships
with relevant external stakeholders to support delivery of evaluation work.
9. To contribute to externally funded research and evaluation.
10. To undertake other duties as and when required by the Centre Manager (Research
and Information).
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January 2010
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3. Person specification
Criteria
Requirement
Education /
qualifications
First degree or equivalent.
E
Knowledge and understanding of policy and principles
underpinning widening participation in HE.
E
Experience of internal/external partnership working.
E
Understanding of needs of black and minority ethnic
students and of students living in areas of deprivation.
E
Significant experience of quantitative and qualitative data
and of undertaking action research.
E
Experience of writing clear and concise evidence based
reports.
E
Experience of using quantitative and qualitative data in
evaluating widening participation projects and activities.
D
Ability to identify from complex projects key factors that
contribute to their success or otherwise.
E
Ability to evaluate initiatives from a range of different
perspectives (e.g. student, institution, partner).
E
Ability to build relationships and communicate with a wide
range of people from diverse backgrounds, both internally
and externally.
E
Ability to work on own initiative and as a member of a
team.
E
Computer literacy, sufficient to use IT systems effectively.
E
A commitment to and understanding of principles and
practice in Equal Opportunities.
E
A commitment to own professional development.
E
Willingness to travel within the UK, as required.
E
Knowledge,
work and other
relevant work
experience
Skills and
competencies
Additional
requirements
Essential/
Desirable
4. Role specific requirements e.g. Shift working
Ability to travel within the UK as required
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January 2010
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5. About the unit/department
The Unit
CICP has been formed from the recent merger of CIC and OUVS, effective from 1st
August 2012. The new unit brings together activities relating to

the new Access Programme

Validation

Partnerships through collaborative teaching

Partnerships with external organisations such as awarding bodies, WEA (Workers’
Educational Association) and UNISON; and access through the recognition of prior
learning.
The new unit also is a focus for research and scholarship relating to widening participation
and developing alternative routes into higher education.
The aims of the Access and Curriculum Team are as follows:
1. To inform, advise and assist PVC-CQ in the development and implementation of
curriculum strategy
2. To support OU WP strategy through curriculum in providing opportunities for equality
of access for under-represented groups at all levels of higher education
3. To develop an institutional research and scholarship culture in the areas of widening
participation, social inclusion in higher education and curriculum development and
establishing the OU as a beacon of excellence in these fields.
Staff comprising the Access and Curriculum team are based at Walton Hall and in two regional
locations. Walton Hall staff include the research office and members of staff responsible for
the presentations of Openings modules and production of the new Access Curriculum.
Staff based at the Manchester Regional Centre and the East Grinstead Regional Centre form
the Openings Regional Team and support UK provision of Openings tutor contractual and
support services, and student services.
6. How to obtain more information about the role or application process
If you would like to discuss the particulars of this role before making an application please
contact John Rose-Adams on 01908 654018 or email john.rose-adams@open.ac.uk.
If you have any questions regarding the application process please contact Caroline
McCrohan on 32858 or email CICP-Recruitment@open.ac.uk.
7. The application process and where to send completed applications
Please ensure that your application reaches the University by: midday 7th February
2013
Post it to:
Name/Job title:
Caroline McCrohan – Recruitment Co-ordinator
Department/Unit: Centre for Inclusion and Collaborative Partnerships
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January 2010
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Address:
First Floor
Wilson B Block
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
Post Code:
MK7 6AA
Or e-mail your application to: CICP-Recruitment @open.ac.uk
8. Selection process and date of interview
The interview panel will be chaired by John Butcher (Deputy Director Access and Curriculum,
Centre for Inclusion and Collaborative Partnerships). The other members of the interview
panel will be John Rose-Adams (Centre Manager, Research and Information) and Michala
Robertson (Assistant Director, Widening Access and Success Service, Student Services).
The interviews are expected to take place on 25th February 2013.
We will let you know as soon as possible after the closing date whether you have been
shortlisted for interview. Further details on the selection process will also be sent to
shortlisted candidates.
Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
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January 2010
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