Public Policy at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy | University of Toronto

Program evaluation is increasingly important to federal, provincial and municipal governments across Canada as they search for increased efficiency and effectiveness in their actions. Non-profit agencies and other third sector actors are also under constant scrutiny to demonstrate meaningful outcomes.

Program evaluation techniques are being used to assess outcomes over a range of government and not-for-profit initiatives – from social programs, to economic development programs, to environmental programs, to labour market programs and more.

Program evaluation is important to the successful implementation of policy.

Still, program evaluation is a contested field of public administration. The early vision of program evaluation as a social scientific technique leading to productivity improvement in government has collided with the realities contemporary governance.

Professor Forward will situate the theory and practice, success and failure of program evaluation within a practical guide for new students to the field.”

*Jan. 30 from 2-5 pm in MS-4171 AND Jan. 31 from 1-3 pm in MS-3163*