THE 7^th EES BIENNIAL CONFERENCE!

04 October 2006 - 06 October 2006

Location: Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, UK

The organisation of the Conference is a joint between UKES and EES.

The conference invites evaluators, commissioners of evaluation and users to reconsider the role of evaluation in democracy, what it contributes to social and public policy and how it reflects and shapes cultures and institutions. The conference is expected to be the largest evaluation conference ever held in Europe and has already attracted widespread interest from around the world. This is not an event to be missed by anyone who wishes to know about thinking and current developments in evaluation in Europe and around the world.

Conference registration is now open!
To register, please visit http://www.profbriefings.co.uk/EISCC2006/eisccregistration.htm where you can register directly online or print out the registration form and send it to the conference administrators by fax or mail. The online registration uses Secure Server Technology to take your registration and payment details.

More detailed information regarding all aspects of the conference, including the programme, keynote speakers, and topics for the professional development workshops, can be obtained from the main conference website at http://www.profbriefings.co.uk/EISCC2006/

Conference theme
The theme of the conference is: 'Evaluation in Society; Critical Connections'. The theme of "critical connections" is proposed as a key to how different evaluation approaches and evaluation systems relate to institutions, sectors, professions, organisations and policy areas in contemporarily society. As societies change, and as evaluation evolves, priorities emerge and new connections become critical. Conversely, earlier connections may need revision. The conference programme is structured under the following six major streams which capture the wide range of relationships that will have to be nurtured to fulfil the potential of evaluation in democracy and development.

1. The role of evaluation in public policy
2. Evaluation and its relationship with the professions, policy sectors and disciplines
3. Evaluation and the European project
4. International evaluation and evaluation in developing countries
5. Evaluating institutions, programmes and structures
6. Evaluation futures.

Over 350 abstracts have also been submitted by participants from 43 countries world-wide. These will be presented in themed parallel sessions of papers, symposia, roundtables, panel/debates, posters and other innovative formats. The programme will include the following keynote presentations :

The role of evaluation in public policy
Sir Nicholas Stern
UK Treasury and Head of the Government Economic Service , previously Chief Economist and Senior Vice President at the World Bank and Chief Economist and Special Counsellor to the President at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Making accountibility intelligent
Baroness Onora O'Neill
Principal, Newnham College, Cambridge, author of the Reith Lectures in 2002 ‘A Question of Trust', in which she discussed whether and how trust can be restored in modern democracy given the current emphasis on accountability and on control.
(www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/reith2002)

Evaluating research and development and innovation: The challenge of evaluating intangibles
Professor Lena Tsipouri
Department of Economic Sciences, University of Athens, an expert in the evaluation of programmes of research and development, technological innovation, and socio-economic development.

Critical connections internationally in evaluation
Dr Ross Conner
President of the Board of Trustees, International Organisation for Cooperation in Evaluation (IOCE), USA


Pre-conference Professional Development Training Workshops
The conference will be preceded by 16 half-day workshops let by international expert in the field of evaluation, grouped under the following strands:

Foundation - For new entrants to the field of evaluation
Institutional - For those who have institutional responsibilities to plan, manage, commission and deliver evaluations
Approach and Methods - For those who wish to gain specialist access to particular methods and techniques and new approaches to evaluation.
International Development - For those working in, or interested in working in evaluation of international development activities.
More details about these workshops can be found at the conference website http://www.profbriefings.co.uk/EISCC2006/eisccprogramme.htm.


Sponsorship Opportunities
This conference also provides excellent opportunities for promoting your organisation. If you would like further information about sponsorship please contact the conference administers.

Bursaries
A limited number of bursaries will be available upon request to enable people from Eastern Europe and from developing countries, as well as others who may require financial support in order to be able to attend and to participate in the conference.

The Conference Venue
The conference will be held at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. It is located in the center of London, directly across the street from Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, steps from Westminster, and close to the West End, museums and shopping, and other attractions. Use the conference as an opportunity to take advantage of the many things that London has to offer the visitor.

Social Events
A range of social events will be available to conference participants. These will complement the working sessions, providing an opportunity for relaxation and to facilitate networking, including an opportunity to chat with old friends and to meet new people from across Europe and indeed from around the world.

Further information can be obtained from the conference website http://www.profbriefings.co.uk/EISCC2006/eisccprogramme.htm