Eval Cafe: Applying the AEA Evaluator Competencies to Improve Evaluation Training Programs

Abstract: One potential purpose of the AEA Evaluator Competencies is to guide evaluation training programs to improve their program structures and contents. The study attempted to understand to what extent evaluation training programs, including professional development programs, align with the AEA Evaluator Competencies and the perspectives of administrators and instructors on potential uses of the AEA Evaluator Competencies. The presentation will share the findings from a content analysis of 35 evaluation training programs and 435 course descriptions, and ten interviews with evaluation training program administrators and instructors. As the study revealed that most evaluation training programs do not explicitly indicate how the programs are aligned with the competencies and have low awareness of the AEA Evaluator Competencies, the presentation will stimulate the conversation on promoting the uses of the AEA Evaluator Competencies for evaluation training programs.

Presenter: Minji Choi, Doctoral student in the Evaluation and Applied Research Methods program at Claremont Graduate University