Rob Summers
Working to help narrow equality gaps in Higher Education. Head of Evaluation @taso.org.uk, the Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education.
- Reposted by Rob SummersI am saddened to hear of the passing of a civil rights leader and former constituent, Claudette Colvin. At just 15, she refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus, serving as a catalyst for the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the end of segregation. Rest in power, Claudette🕊️
- Reposted by Rob SummersSet out six months ago to investigative some dubious evictions. Ended up writing a sprawling story spread over 450 years about London property deals, the ethics of money lending, Tommy Robinson, Barbary pirates, Jacobean earls, and wealth in the capital. www.londoncentric.media/p/henry-smit...
- Reposted by Rob SummersOne of the reasons that emergence of ‘cold spots’ of subject provision matters: 52% of 18 year olds from the most disadvantaged backgrounds (the most deprived quintile in the Indices of Multiple Deprivation) plan to live at home when they go the university www.thetimes.com/article/22cc...
- Reposted by Rob SummersOut for the Count: my SKETCH of James Cartlidge failing at DPMQs so spectacularly that he managed to overshadow David Lammy's TREASONOUS lack of a poppy.
- Reposted by Rob SummersGreat to publish the Curriculum and Assessment Review this morning
- Reposted by Rob SummersAccess our Theory of Change Builder – a free online tool that makes developing a theory of change simpler, clearer, and more consistent. Start building today: toc-builder.taso.org.uk
- Reposted by Rob SummersWhat does the 'post-16 education and skills white paper' mean for equality in education? Read @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social reflections – welcoming its focus on evidence & inequality, and urging that progress be measured by how far reforms close access & success gaps. taso.org.uk/news-blog/ev...
- Reposted by Rob SummersAre you a graduate who started their university journey in the first years of the 9K fees? If so, please consider contributing to this important research project lead by my colleague Farhana Ghaffar
- Reposted by Rob SummersMake your data speak – because evidence only drives change when people understand it. Join us on 27 Nov (10:00–16:00, online) for 'Communicating evidence through data visualisation' and learn how to tell stories effectively. Book: www.tickettailor.com/events/taso/...
- Reposted by Rob SummersTASO is partnering with @niesrorg.bsky.social & @veriangroup.com, @uniofleicester.bsky.social, Middlesex Uni, & @uniofnottingham.bsky.social to evaluate activities that support students’ transition into higher education. Learn about the interventions: taso.org.uk/news-blog/ev...
- Reposted by Rob SummersWATCH THIS: The most amazing thing about this remarkable 2002 car commercial is that it didn’t seem to realize at the time, or perhaps didn’t care, how effectively it made the point that cars and car infrastructure are a HUGE waste of space in cities. Award-winning 2002 ad for Saturn car company.
- Reposted by Rob SummersBecause we know Badenoch is always very slow to condemn, keen to de-escalate and reluctant to judge people.
- Reposted by Rob SummersTASO has launched the Theory of Change Builder – a new digital tool to help higher ed providers plan and evaluate widening participation interventions. Map activities, link outcomes, and build evidence-based plans with ease. taso.org.uk/news-blog/dy...
- Reposted by Rob SummersIn our latest blog post, Mikayla Boginsky, TASO Research Officer, reviews a decade of UCAS results day trends, exploring the lasting impacts of COVID-19 on higher education acceptances and entry rates by disadvantage and region. Read the post: taso.org.uk/news-blog/uc...
- Reposted by Rob SummersHere's a #HigherEducationPostcard of York St John University, @yorkstjohn.bsky.social This was the men's college, (1841), which merged with the parallel women's college, (1846), and became a university in 2006 If you like this image, please retweet it - remember, BlueSky has #NoAlgorithm
- Reposted by Rob SummersLatest report reveals deep HE inequalities for care-experienced young people. 🔹 4x less likely to attend uni 🔹 Higher dropout rates 🔹 Later/lower entry routes Key recs: taso.org.uk/libraryitem/...
- Reposted by Rob SummersTwo uncomfortable truths with the Lucy Connolly story: 1. Suspect the right are missing how deeply authoritarian the British public are. They tend to *like* these laws and sentences. 2. Most of the British political class liked them too, until they were applied to a middle class white woman.
- Reposted by Rob Summers"Katwala's paradox of racism" In a demonstrably less prejudiced society (attitudes shifted, esp across generations), I am in receipt of much more racism Minorities in 2020s have more equal opps than ever before - esp at very top - yet an increasingly unequal experience of more equal opportunities
- Reposted by Rob SummersOur entire political culture is rooted in being so angry that money might go to those who aren't in need, that we're willing to suffer deprivation among those who are.
- Reposted by Rob SummersI undertook some analysis of data from the National Pupil Database, linked with the Higher Education Statistics Agency, which I've published in my recent Data Insight publication for ADR UK...
- Reposted by Rob SummersFrom RCTs to QEDs and matching techniques, @robsummers0.bsky.social, Research Manager at TASO, explores how we can estimate both actual outcomes and the counterfactual—what would have happened without the intervention. Read the post: taso.org.uk/news-blog/es...
- Reposted by Rob SummersStruggling to create a theory of change? TASO’s upcoming tool will guide you step-by-step—from the initial idea to a fully developed Enhanced ToC. Find out more in our latest blog post: taso.org.uk/news-blog/ho...
- Reposted by Rob Summers[This post could not be retrieved]
- Reposted by Rob SummersI am American, born in NYC. I've been asked 'when was I naturalized', taken into secondary security 10+ times, including with my 3 month old child. I have been held for 90 minutes for refusing to provide my IMEI to track my phone last time Trump was elected. They will target citizens next.
- Reposted by Rob SummersOur report, published today, presents research by the @reescentre.bsky.social that finds that young people are less likely to enter higher education if they had experience of children’s social care taso.org.uk/libraryitem/...
- Reposted by Rob Summers[This post could not be retrieved]
- Reposted by Rob SummersYoung people with experience of children’s social care face barriers to entering and succeeding in higher education. Find out more in this TASO & @reescentre.bsky.social report: ‘Pathways into & through higher education for young people with experience of social care’. taso.org.uk/libraryitem/...
- Reposted by Rob SummersWe're hiring a Research Officer at TASO! Help tackle equality gaps in higher ed through evidence-based practice. Work on impact evaluations, research, & collaboration with universities. Hybrid (London, 2 days in-office) £36,383 + benefits Deadline: 10 March Apply now: taso.org.uk/vacancy/rese...
- Reposted by Rob SummersNEW on Wonkhe: Omar Khan sets out how those with experience of children’s social care still face challenges in accessing and completing higher education bit.ly/43HM5Gz
- There's an opportunity for someone with an interest in reducing inequalities in HE too come and work for us.
- We're Hiring: Research Officer Passionate about impact evaluation and widening participation in higher ed? Join us. Location: London (Hybrid) Salary: £36,383 Deadline: Apply by 10 March More info: taso.org.uk/vacancy/rese...
- Reposted by Rob SummersMissed our info session on our latest invitation to tender? Catch up on key insights to navigate the process: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfSS... Learn more about the tender: taso.org.uk/news-blog/in...
- Reposted by Rob SummersJoin us for the launch of our report on care-experienced young people in higher education! 📅 6 March | 10:30–12:30 📍 London The report explores the educational pathways of care-experienced young people, offering key insights & recommendations for HE and social care sectors.
- Reposted by Rob Summers
- Reposted by Rob SummersToday @schoolforgovt.bsky.social publish 'Designing and delivering randomised trials for social policy' - a major new resource for evidence-based policy making. 📺 Watch the launch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FqU...
- Reposted by Rob SummersJoin us tomorrow (11:00–12:00) for a webinar where we'll provide key details and guidance on our latest invitation to tender, focused interventions supporting student success. Register: www.tickettailor.com/events/taso/... Learn more about the tender: taso.org.uk/news-blog/in...
- Reposted by Rob SummersApplications are still open for a Research Manager to join our Research & Evaluation team. This role will manage research projects, lead evaluations, and support team development. 🔗 Learn more & apply: taso.org.uk/about/career...
- Reposted by Rob SummersJoin our webinar on 11 Feb (11:00–12:00) to learn about our latest ITT on evaluating interventions for student success. The session will cover the project's scope, key details, eligibility & selection criteria. Register: www.tickettailor.com/events/taso/...
- Reposted by Rob SummersThank you to everyone who joined our webinar yesterday, where we explored the Data Infrastructure Guide, a key resource helping HE providers use data to identify equality gaps & evaluate interventions for student success. 📘 Explore the guide: taso.org.uk/libraryitem/...
- Reposted by Rob SummersA recent TASO report highlights how using a theory of change (ToC) approach can guide interventions aimed at closing the ethnicity degree awarding gap. 📖 Explore the full report and key findings: taso.org.uk/wp-content/u... #HigherEducation #TheoryOfChange #ClosingTheGap #EquityInEducation
- Reposted by Rob SummersJoin us tomorrow (10:30–11:30) for a webinar on the Data Infrastructure Guide (DIG)—a key TASO resource on institutional data use. Learn how to use DIG and get your questions answered. Find out more and sign up: taso.org.uk/event/using-...
- Reposted by Rob SummersThat ending gets me every time…
- Reposted by Rob SummersIt's been a busy year for TASO! Dive deeper into our 2024 achievements in our year in the review video 📽️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7th...
- Reposted by Rob SummersWe’re really excited to bring you this #PBEEvents webinar exploring findings from PBE’s first Low Wellbeing in the UK report, which provides an insight into the state of wellbeing, drivers of low wellbeing and its economic impact. Read the report here: www.probonoeconomics.com/mind-body-an...
- Reposted by Rob SummersI don't love it either, but I'm not sure how you tell a man that he should let his only surviving son rot in prison to respect norms, institutions, and the rule of law, when the country you devoted your life to serving just pretty comprehensively voted they don't give a shit about any of that.
- Reposted by Rob SummersLatest from me and @danihpayne.bsky.social: how to support more care experienced and estranged students into higher education and thriving whilst there.
- Reposted by Rob SummersWe welcome this focus on evidence-led progress and look forward to supporting the sector. Find out more: www.smf.co.uk/invest-in-hi... Read @smfthinktank.bsky.social report (PDF): www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/u...
- Reposted by Rob Summers📢 Today’s @smfthinktank.bsky.social report highlights gaps in support for care-experienced learners in HE, with key recommendations like reintroducing grants, a £1,000 ‘pupil premium,’ and a role for TASO in evaluating these initiatives.
- Reposted by Rob SummersThe other thing we could model on the school pupil premium is encouraging greater use of evaluation and evidence. We would like to see TASO be given a clearer remit to evaluate and identify support activities as the EEF does for schools
- Reposted by Rob Summers
- Reposted by Rob Summers🚨 1 week to go until our QED training event! 🔹 Identify when to use QEDs 🔹 Explore sample size considerations 🔹 Learn to evaluate interventions 🔹 Communicate findings effectively 🔹 Review real-world case studies Agenda: taso.org.uk/attendee-gui... Register: www.tickettailor.com/events/taso/...
- Reposted by Rob SummersThank you to everyone who joined our 'Implementing empirical evaluations with correlational evidence' session yesterday! We hope you gained valuable tools to strengthen your evaluations. Up next: Quasi-experimental designs training Sign up here: taso.org.uk/events/
