When the OfS requirements for evaluation of Access and Participation Plans were revised in 2023 the Standards of Evaluation Evidence were not updated to reflect the new requirements. We worked with a carefully selected group of NERUPI members that reflected the diversity of the sector, to explore the types of evidence needed to support effective activity planning, evidence-based decision making, evaluation practice and knowledge transfer. The findings have now been published along with a Policy Brief from the Institute for Policy Research
Read the IPR Policy Brief Improving access and participation in higher education
Read the Executive Summary and Recommendations
Read Report 1 OfS Standards of Evidence for APPs
The project team was: University of East London; University of Hertfordshire; Leeds Conservatoire; London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE); Loughborough University; University of Law; University of Sussex. We are working as a community of praxis to evaluate outcomes and impact in organisational contexts, aiming for a participatory process that will facilitate collaborative evidence and agreement on effective approaches to support WP effective evaluation.
The project was supported by an expert Reference Group of:
Matt Dickson, Professor of Economic and Social Policy, University of Bath, Tony Moss, Pro Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience, London South Bank University; Kathleen Quinlan, Professor of Higher Education and Director of the Centre for the Study of Higher Education, University of Kent; Manuel Madriaga, Professor in Education, University of Nottingham; Anna Anthony, Director of HEAT, Liz Thomas, Associate Dean Learning & Teaching, University of York.
Find out more about the Launch Event which took place on 26th November 2025