This report is the sixth of a series of 10 evaluation reports on 10 selected EQUAL communication and learning platforms run in 2007. It is both a stand alone document, corresponding to the evaluation of one of the platforms selected by the European Commission following the restricted call for proposals VP/2006/007, and a contribution to the final synthesis report.
The report has been prepared on the basis of:
-          A review of the following documents: application, list of participants in the main events and the learning activities of the CoP[1], minutes of the Steering Group meetings and teleconferences, reports and enactments on the mentioned key events[2], evaluation reports[3], synthesis report on the impact of Project Cycle Management (PCM) presented at the related Vilnius Conference[4].
-          Regular observation of the collaborative environment (web of the CoP). Our registration with the website has allowed us to monitor the evolution of the number of members registered with the platform, the shared information and documents, the main themes of debate between members and extent of participation by members.
-          Joint e-mail interview with the platform organisers and the expert: two representatives of the the Italian NSS (ISFOL) on the Steering Group, and an expert of FORMEZ (subcontractor for the design and development of the collaborative environment).
We had actually sent the questionnaire to NSS and the subcontractor separately, as our questions are not only factual, but also a matter of organisational stance (and personal sometimes as well), for which there is not necessarily a consensus, or in any case, in our view, consensus should not be pre-empted.
The organisation questionnaire was also sent to the two co-organisers (French and German speaking Belgium – hereafter BEfrg – and Poland) but we could obtain no response after various intents. This is probably due to overloaded agendas and frequent travelling, as indicated by the Italian organisers.
-          A qualitative survey to participants of the CoP: The questionnaire was sent out to 51 registered members, who had previously been identified by the Italian organiser as ESF officials, working in ESF departments (i.e. the target group of the platform). Only 6 responses were received, which amounts to a response rate of about 12%. Our basis for assessing the usefulness of the platform for participants is therefore limited. One of the possible reasons for this limited response rate is maybe the very format of the platform itself, as its virtual character could be associated with a lesser feeling of responsibility for taking part in evaluation activities. According to the Italian coordinator, who responded to our concern, ‘many of them subscribed to the Community for the sake of receiving information, such as our newsletter (so called ‘lurkers’) and do not expect nor are required to put in their time to develop the CoP.  Those ESF officials who were involved in the different project activities (both face-to-face and on-line) probably feel no obligation to complete evaluation activities other than those planned by the project (i.e. for each event or training action delivered)’.   

[1] The three key events of the CoP: Brussels Peer review (22/11/2006), Turin Showcasing Workshop (3-4/05/07) and the Warsaw Conference (1/06/07). Learning activities: Cagliari Summer School (11-12/06/07) and the 3 Blended training editions held on (17/09/07, 15/10/07 and 12/11/07)

[2] European Conference: Effective management of programmes and projects under the European Social Fund 2007-2013 (Warsaw 1/06/07) Summary Report, Showcasing Workshop ‘Sound planning and Management’ (Turin, 3-4/05/07) Report and Peer Review ‘Project Cycle Management Method: keys to success?’ (Brussels, 22/11/2006/) Enactments.

[3] First Quarterly Monitoring, Second Monitoring and Mid-Term Evaluation reports. Available on http://soundplanning.esflive.eu

[4] This report includes the key findings and results of a survey conducted in eight Member States on the impact of PCM both at project and Programme level. Synthesis Report of self-evaluations on planning approach as applied by the EQUAL Programme (Vilnius, Nov.2005). Available on http://soundplanning.esflive.eu