Anyone asked to conduct a research or evaluation project or study - small or large - faces the challenge of how best to manage this. University and professional training in research (and evaluation) principles and methods have long neglected this vital aspect of successfully delivering projects. More recently, shrinking budgets and timetables (but not expectations) have added to the challenges for those leading research projects and intensified the need for more structured approaches to project management. Using a mixture of shared slides, interactive sessions and exercises in small groups, this practical course provides an intensive introduction to how to rise to these challenges using tried and tested methods. It is aimed at participants from all sectors, those new to project management in research and evaluation, and those who may have some experience but are looking to widen their knowledge of structured approaches.
Social researchers across sectors who are new to research project management or who wish to extend their knowledge of systematic approaches to managing research projects and programmes.
By the end of the course participants will:
Professor David Parsons is a highly experienced policy researcher and evaluator of public programmes in the UK and Europe. He has held faculty posts at three UK universities, is a past advisor to the National Economic Development Office, European Commission, ESRC and UKCES, and former director of a successful policy research company. David has directed and co-directed numerous research and evaluation studies for government, non-departmental public bodies and others in the UK, and for international bodies. He brings to this course very wide practical experience of project planning, task and team management, and of how to manage projects responsively to meet project (and client) expectations on time and to specification.
This course contributes 6 hours to the MRS CPD programme