RAND Europe and partners conducted a study to understand the broader societal impacts of research conducted at UK higher education institutions, as represented by the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) Impact Case Studies. The research examines the corpus of 6000+ impact case studies using a mixed-methods approach that involved topic modelling, geotagging, text searches, bibliometric analysis, infographics and deep dives.
This report gives a detailed overview of the methods used in the evaluation of the Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce (APST).
The Porticus IntegratED Programme aimed to reduce preventable exclusion from school and improve the quality of alternative provision. Evaluations by RAND Europe and NFER identify key Programme achievements and lessons for other philanthropic funders.
This study, funded by the Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) addresses the prevalence and drivers of financial (in)stability of military families in the United Kingdom. It also describes what finance-related support exists for military families, what the strengths and limitations of this support landscape are, and what opportunities exist to improve policy and support provision.
RAND Europe and partners conducted a study to understand the broader societal impacts of research conducted at Scottish higher education institutions, as represented by the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) Impact Case Studies. The research examines the corpus of 746 impact case studies using a mixed-methods approach that involved topic modelling, geotagging, text searches, bibliometric analysis, infographics and deep dives.
The Porticus IntegratED Programme aimed to reduce preventable exclusion from school and improve the quality of alternative provision. Evaluations by RAND Europe and NFER identify key Programme achievements and lessons for other philanthropic funders.
This study was a mixed methods process evaluation of the implementation of NELI at scale. The objectives were to assess and understand the scaling process and to provide recommendations for supporting future scale-up of educational interventions.
The Year 2 Report is a mixed methods process evaluation of the implementation of NELI at scale across schools in England, using surveys, interviews and case studies. It focuses on schools who signed up to deliver NELI in the 2021/22 academic year.
This research brief summarises the findings and recommendations for policy and practice from a study looking at the prevalence and drivers of financial (in)stability among military families in the United Kingdom.
We investigated how social sciences, humanities and arts for people and the economy (SHAPE) R&D is understood and captured in the UK economy and internationally, responding to concerns they are not captured in UK government definitions of business R&D. We used a mixed methods approach including literature reviews, interviews and data analysis across UK sectors and international comparators. We provided recommendations to rectify these issues.
The briefing examines best practice in early childhood education and care from around the world to identify approaches that could be used to improve the system in England and ensure all children progress, particularly those facing disadvantage.
This European Platform for Investing in Children research note examines the medium- and long-term impact of early childhood education and care provision on education and labour market outcomes for children and parents, as well as the indicators employed for these measurements.
The Australian Dental Council's approach to dental program accreditation uses directive, anticipatory, strategic, stakeholder, and relational impact mechanisms to influence education providers and ensure graduates are sufficiently competent.
This study evaluated the potential economic benefits to the UK of improving languages education in schools. Researchers found investing in languages education will most likely return more than the investment cost, even under conservative assumptions. The benefit-to-cost ratios are estimated to be at least 2:1 for promoting Arabic, French, Mandarin or Spanish education, meaning that spending £1 could return approximately £2.
The report provides an overview of holistic early childhood education and care services in France between 2017-2021. It contains analyses of government support and broader societal and political trends in French society regarding early childhood development, presenting limitations and drawbacks of current policies. It identifies future policy challenges and relevant research gaps, to increase evidence-based policy.
Peer Assisted Learning Strategies UK (PALS-UK) is a whole-class, structured peer tutoring intervention aiming to improve pupils' reading comprehension, oral reading fluency, and overall reading attainment.
The Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) is a whole school accreditation programme aimed at improving science teaching and learning.
This research draws on expert interviews and workshops to answer the question how skills needs will change in the four priority areas (health, science and technology, managers, and skilled trades) over the next 5–10 years.
Spotlight 2021–2022 highlights selected RAND Europe projects that address the important issues of our time. It also features research that is poised to make a difference in the coming year.
Findings show that investing in languages education in UK secondary schools will return more than the investment cost. The benefit-to-cost ratio is about 2:1, meaning that every £1 spent on extra language provision could return £2 for the economy.
Dental program accreditation activities undertaken by the Australian Dental Council influence education providers via directive, anticipatory, strategic, stakeholder, and relational impact mechanisms.
Accelerated Reader (AR), developed by Renaissance Learning, is a digital whole-class reading management and monitoring programme that aims to foster independent reading among primary and secondary pupils.
Case study that describes the advocacy efforts of the cross-sector National Network of Early Childhood (RNPI) to introduce the Legal Framework for Early Childhood Development in Brazil. The successful introduction of the Legal Framework was attributed to strong support by and collaboration with politicians and other civil society. It offers valuable lessons for others aiming to inform policy change through children advocacy.
There is growing interest in approaches to public engagement with research that use the arts to facilitate engagement. However, there is a lack of systematic and consolidated learning about how they work and about their effectiveness. To help respond to this gap in the knowledge base, The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute commissioned RAND Europe to conduct a rapid review of the evidence on the use and effectiveness of such approaches.
This research note summarises the existing evidence on the benefits of extracurricular activities, how they can be used to support social inclusion, and how access for disadvantaged children can be improved.
