Evaluation capacity building in response to the agricultural research impact agenda: Emerging insights from Ireland, Catalonia (Spain), New Zealand, and Uruguay.

Performance-based funding and calls for public-funded science to demonstrate societal impact are encouraging public research organisations to evaluate impact, the so-called impact agenda. This paper explores evaluation methods of four fully or partially public-funded agricultural research organisations and how they are building evaluative capacity to respond to the impact agenda. Drawing on cross-organisational comparison of the readiness of each organisation to implement evaluation, the implications for improving evaluative capacity building (ECB) are discussed.

Use of an adapted problem-based learning approach to aid the development of clinical audit skills in a palliative care setting.

Aim: To share the experiences of an adapted problem-based learning approach to audit within a palliative care setting.

Method: A small group learning approach to design and undertake an audit.

Result: This approach was a positive learning experience within clinical practice that enabled the group to develop their knowledge of audit planning, design, analysis and reporting as well as their problem-solving, written and communication skills.