December 24, 2024
RECONOMY Charting Impact: Unveiling Alumni Tracing Studies
Just recently, a training workshop was organized by Helvetas in the frame of RECONOMY, to elevate the capabilities of our dedicated and dynamic partners to trace the impactful journeys of individual beneficiaries empowered by the RECONOMY projects.
The workshop—designed with a focus on educational institutions and training providers from across the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkan countries—provided a platform for our partners to collaborate and examine the relevance of tracing studies. Participants delved into various research methodologies and began outlining the frameworks for their own tracing needs, ensuring that they are well-equipped to foster inclusive and green economic development.
What exactly constitutes an alumni tracing study?
Fundamentally, it is a form of research that follows the journey of individuals who have undergone a training. It seeks to understand how these training programs have influenced their career decisions and what are their overall contributions to the local economy. Importantly, such studies can extend beyond individual beneficiaries to showcase impact throughout entire sectors and communities, providing a comprehensive view of the impact of competency-building initiatives.
How is it done?
The methods employed in alumni tracing studies are diverse, ranging from online surveys to in-person interviews, and can encompass both quantitative and qualitative approaches. During the workshop, the diverse needs of training providers highlighted the myriad opportunities to map out the societal impact of projects like those implemented in the frame of RECONOMY. From tracking the progression of game developers in Serbia to assessing the adoption of agricultural drone technology in rural areas of Armenia, these studies offer invaluable insights into the effectiveness of training programs.
Why is it relevant in development?
In the realm of development, alumni tracing studies play a crucial role, particularly within programs like RECONOMY that span eleven countries across the Western Balkan and the Eastern Partnership regions. Engaging with partner organizations and numerous local market actors, that provide various training opportunities, the program recognizes competencies as one of its three key workstreams. By equipping them with the tools to conduct tracing studies, RECONOMY aims to deepen understanding beyond traditional metrics outlined in LogFrame analyses:
- Enhancing understanding: By delving into the nuances of project impact, tracing studies offer insights that transcend conventional metrics, providing a more nuanced understanding of training outcomes.
- Fostering equity: By promoting the adoption of quality tracing practices among all participating market actors, RECONOMY endeavors to level the playing field and ensure that impact assessments are comprehensive and equitable.
- Promoting systemic change: Rooted in the principles of the market systems development (MSD) approach, RECONOMY seeks to increase the uptake of tracing studies, thereby catalyzing broader adoption by market actors beyond project reach and driving systemic change within the training landscape. Ultimately, the aim of the tracing studies is to ensure that the training providers monitor the progress of their trainees or students, keeping track of how individuals are performing, where they might be struggling, and where they excel. It helps them assess and evaluate the effectiveness of their training programs, identify areas of improvement in the curriculum or teaching method, tailor learning experiences to individual needs and maintain quality standards.
By executing them in set intervals, not only provides valuable insights into program effectiveness but also confers several competitive advantages, including differentiation, credibility, continuous improvement, and enhanced appeal to their existing and potentail training participants.
What lies ahead for RECONOMY?
By focusing on alumni tracing studies, RECONOMY is not just tracking the immediate outcomes of the trainings but is also uncovering the long-term impacts on individuals, sectors, and communities. These efforts are pivotal in understanding the transformative power of competency-building initiatives, identifying opportunities for further enhancements, and facilitating a more inclusive and greener economic growth. RECONOMY is setting a new standard in development, ensuring that the benefits of trainings are deeply understood and widely recognized.
Authors
Valon Xoxa
Valon Xoxa is the Program Officer for the Western Balkans at RECONOMY. He has over 10 years of experience in project management and implementation with international development partners in the region. His expertise in monitoring, coordination, and integration of projects has been instrumental in successful implementation of activities related to employment via Active Labour Market Programmes in Kosovo.
Muamer Niksic
Muamer Niksic is the Monitoring and Results Measurement (MRM) Manager at RECONOMY. He is responsible for building and maintaining effective MRM systems guided by the DCED Standard for Results Measurement. His previous experience consists of work for various development projects in fields of education, social inclusion and economic development.
Related Content
November 25, 2024
November 12, 2024
Related Content
November 25, 2024
November 12, 2024
Comments (0)