Chartering change: Building developmental evaluation capacity for equity initiatives
The final report from a 2025 ACSES Capacity Building Grant project undertaken at The University of South Australia (UniSA).
The final report from a 2025 ACSES Capacity Building Grant project undertaken at The University of South Australia (UniSA).The final report from a 2025 ACSES Capacity Building Grant project undertaken at The University of South Australia (UniSA).
This is a final report from a 2025 ACSES Capacity Building Grant project by The University of South Australia (UniSA). The project worked to establish a foundational
Theory of Change for three UniSA programs which each engage distinct student groups—that is, primary school students. secondary students in alternative school settings, and students participating in an enabling program within UniSA College.
The project also acted as a catalyst to identify the types of locally meaningful data that can inform ongoing program refinement and strengthen the evidence-base ahead of the formation of Adelaide University as a merger of UniSA and The University of Adelaide.
The project resulted in developmental evaluation reports for each of the three programs:
STEM Showdown program, a pre-access stage program designed to engage Year 5 and 6 school students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
University Makes a Difference Outreach program (UMaDOP), a pre-access stage program designed for students who are engaged in the South Australia’s Department for Education’s (DfE) Tailored Learning program, which specifically supports young people who have disengaged from schooling, or have poor attendance at school.
Starting Strong program, a participation-stage program delivered to commencing students at UniSA College (a pathways provider) during Orientation week (i.e. before classes formally commence), and relating to the norms and expectations anticipated of university students.
