Uni Connect

Evaluating Uni Connect's impact

Uni Connect is being evaluated at a national level to assess how successfully the programme meets its aims, in addition to local partnership evaluation.

We'll use evidence from the evaluation to understand:

whether Uni Connect is working
how well it's working
who it's working for.

We'll use this information to support our funding decisions and refine practice at a local level.

External national evaluation

We commissioned CFE Research to undertake an impact evaluation assessing the changes that have resulted from Uni Connect interventions.

This uses a range of quantitative, experimental methodologies and includes a review of the evidence from partnerships' local evaluations with reports at key points in the programme.

For phase two, Ipsos MORI conducted a formative evaluation of Uni Connect, focused on understanding:

outreach hub strategic approach and delivery progress
school/college experience and engagement
learner targeting and engagement
the unique offering of Uni Connect.

In March 2022, we published the Uni Connect evidence bank. This is a database resource that details nearly all the evidence submissions CFE Research have accepted and reviewed over the last four Uni Connect evidence reviews, covering 219 sources of outreach evaluation evidence.

Ipsos MORI has also developed learning digests to ensure we make the most of the Uni Connect evaluation findings.

OfS national evaluation

We have undertaken:

quantitative analysis using national administrative datasets to assess:
- key stage 4 and 5 behavioural change
- numbers of entrants to higher education
- attainment
- progression
ongoing monitoring and governance of partnerships, including account management and monitoring of biannual financial returns and operating plans.

Partnership local evaluation

Partnerships are undertaking:

longitudinal tracking of Uni Connect target learners at local and national level to evaluate the impact of particular interventions
local evaluation of their activities.

Evaluation reports

Phase one

Year one report of the national formative and impact evaluation (CFE Research)	March 2018
End of phase one report for the national formative and impact evaluations (CFE Research)	October 2019

Phase two

An independent review of evaluation evidence submitted by Uni Connect partnerships phase two (CFE Research)	December 2020
An independent evaluation of Uni Connect’s impact on intermediate outcomes for learners (CFE Research)	March 2021
Formative evaluation of Uni Connect phase two: Survey of school and college staff (Ipsos Mori)	March 2021
Uni Connect national programme evaluation: An analysis of young participation in higher education in England in the areas targeted by Uni Connect (OfS)	May 2021
Formative evaluation of Uni Connect phase two: Detailed findings report and Summary report (Ipsos Mori)	May 2021
Third independent review of evaluation evidence submitted by Uni Connect partnerships: A summary of the local impact evidence to date (CFE Research)	May 2021
Emerging insight report: COVID-19 and Uni Connect (CFE Research)	May 2021

Phase three

Fourth independent review of impact evaluation evidence submitted by Uni Connect partnerships (CFE Research)	March 2022
Uni Connect evidence bank (CFE Research)	March 2022
Uni Connect: Learning digests (Ipsos Mori)	March 2022

Last updated 10 March 2022 + show all updates

10 March 2022: Added link to Uni Connect learning digests, the fourth independent review and the Uni Connect evidence bank
20 May 2021: Added links to evaluation reports published in May 2021
26 March 2021: Ipsos Mori survey and CFE learner survey results published
09 December 2020: Evaluation report date updated
29 January 2020: NCOP renamed to Uni Connect

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Uni Connect

Evaluating Uni Connect's impact

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