‘A presence in the community’: developing innovative practice through realist evaluation of widening participation in West Yorkshire

Abstract

This paper examines the role realist evaluation can play in supporting innovative practice in widening participation (WP) activity. Based on the Go Higher West Yorkshire Uni Connect project (formerly the National Collaborative Outreach Programme, or NCOP), a new model of WP provision has been developed to support learners in spatially disadvantaged communities where access to Higher Education is nationally less than average. It offers specific examples of innovative practice developing a locally tailored approach to WP activities based on community contexts. A realist evaluation framework is utilised to iteratively assess WP activity through subsequent development and modification of relevant programme theory. The article contributes to literature through offering a reflexive account of how realist evaluation can be utilised in terms of WP outreach.

Reframing widening participation towards the community: a realist evaluation

“…Furthermore, it is necessary to reflect on the wider role that situational 'community context' plays in WP, and how this can differ from community to community (Lumb and Roberts, 2017: 22). By taking into account the wider community context, situated circumstances beneficial to WP activity can be found (Formby et al, 2020). Preparing HEPOsand other outreach staff in similar positionsfor such work should, therefore, involve consideration of the intersection of community, institutional need and how space is practiced, used and lived (Cresswell, 2009: 2).…”

“…In particular, Pawson (2018: 212) notes that 'contexts are most definitely not limited to location' and can refer to a much wider set of characteristics, such as individuals (who are running the programme), interrelationships (between stakeholders), institutional arrangements (including physical spaces where the programme has been embedded) and the wider infrastructure (wider social, economic and cultural settings). This makes realist evaluation ideal to analyse the role of HEPOs and how they fit into their respective institutional context(s) and the various communities in which they operate (Lumb and Roberts, 2017;Formby et al, 2020).…”