EMTA Awards Ltd.  (EAL)

Our major priority in 2006 was the culmination of a two-year project for EAL, begun in Summer, 2004 (see entry below).   In May, 2006, we completed the third report of the evaluation outlining the results of a major pilot by EAL to introduce online testing for VRQs.   The project report, both for use by EAL internally and distribution to a wider audience - specifically QCA, provided a number of learning points for EAL's Business Development team to progress. We went on to do another piece of work for EAL and are currently in 2007 managing the development of additional items for their online multiple choice question bank.

People 1st

We have been working with People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for Hospitality, Leisure & Tourism, on the development of their Hospitality Specialised Diploma, Specialist Learning, Employer Consultations Qualification Mapping, and Progression routes.

University of the Arts London (UAL)

UAL have a major international students section and we recently completed a number of projects for them.  The latest were as follows :

-    A project to evaluate the CDrom UAL send out to international students together with their offer letter and other documentation.  The CDrom gives a variety of information and Pareas Associates evaluated its use by, and value for, students by means of focus groups.  The findings were used to inform a remake of the CD.

-    UAL wanted to carry out a First Destination Study among its international student graduates.  Because this is a group with which it is difficult to keep track, Pareas Associates evaluated different methodologies to identify the most appropriate one to enable continuous tracking of the graduates in order to carry out the research.

-    An international telephone survey among all UAL agents and Education/International Directors in British Council offices in various locations to establish views on UAL's enrolment, fees and curriculum offer.  The findings were used to influence policies and operation of the international development function.

-    An E-survey was carried out among a sample of past visiting students from the USA who have spent either 1 or 2 terms on one of UAL's programmes during the 2003/04 academic year.  The study's aim was to identify the students' experiences while on the programme, to re-establish contact with them as part of an ongoing link looking forward to their future study plans, and to explore the use of an online survey as a means by which to carry out this kind of research.  The findings of the research were fed into the course review agenda.

-    A study was undertaken to explore how the pre-sessional English programme run by UAL's Language Centre for it's international students impacts on the work of the university and the integration of international students into its programmes.

National Federation of Builders

During 2004 we carried out a bespoke analysis of 1,000 4-page questionnaires sent out by the NFB to its members to establish the level and usage of IT within their firms.  The results included frequency counts and cross tabulation data tables, as well as content analysis of open-ended questions.

Open University

We recently carried out a number of projects for the Open University, including one to establish the reason behind the uptake of one of their courses as part of the Early Years suite of Awards, (involving a telephone survey amoung 300 students),and one to identify why conversion from enquiry to enrolment was low for language courses. 

Qualification Curriculum Authority

QCA were exploring the value of a Common Centre Approval process for Awarding Bodies, as part of a programme of activity to streamline the tasks undertaken by Awarding Bodies and to ease the burden of bureaucracy.  Pareas Associates carried out a major analysis to explore the common requirements needed for such a process to work, with the end result being a report with recommendations of the questions to be asked as part of the Common Process.

EMTA Awards Ltd.  (EAL)

EAL is a key Awarding Body for the Engineering Sector and they recently introduced a pilot online testing service for the externally assessed parts of their VRQs (Vocationally Related Qualifications).  Between 2004, and 2006 Pareas Associates provided the front end customer information and co-ordination aspects of the project, as well as liaison with all key players and carrying out the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the online pilot.  This was an ongoing project which continued throughout 2005 and 2006.

LCCIEB (now EDI)

Overseeing the development of 5 new Technical Certificate qualifications and multiple choice assessment materials to support the new programmes.  Several of the new qualifications are attracting healthy numbers of candidates and the LCCIEB have a well-stocked multiple choice item bank.

Hilton UK
Researching a range of sales positions within Hilton UK leading to a review of sales team competencies and the development of team members.  The results were used to develop new job descriptions and a competence framework.

CLB (Chartered Accountants)
Carrying out telephone research across a range of charities concerning Trustee remuneration issues. Our client's aim was to offer a series of informative workshops to support these organisations in their practices.  These were a great success and resulted in increased business for CLB.

Netkonect
Investigating the range of skills and competencies required by the top tier of managers in this fast-growing dotcom company, in order to facilitate their reorganisation. The results were used to reframe job descriptions and develop a competence framework.

British Library
Conducting a study of the personal career assessment of staff members to support their further development within the organisation, leading to the production of a job-matching procedure which could be used to re-deploy and utilise staff effectively. 

Tavistock Career and Educational Consultation
Developing multi-disciplinary career development programmes for selected groups using a combination of approaches.  Work is on-going with the organisation (now Careers in Depth) to integrate psychometric assessment within their methods of work.

Springboard UK
Sourcing, collating and organising the data required to aid the development of an interactive computer programme for potential recruits.  The data was used in the 'Springteractive' programme which was a great success, particularly with youngsters.

Employment Service
Determining the fitness of a measure of employability used by the New Deal for Disabled pilot schemes.  As a result, the Employment Service were able to modify the measure and use it most effectively with their teams.

Open University
Carrying out qualitative research to identify reasons for non-continuation of programmes.  The O.U. has built up a large bank of data on the reasons for non-continuation on different courses which helps them with their retention strategies.

Jarvis Hotels
Providing the psychometric testing at five development centres run to select candidates for the Group's Management Academy, a fast-track mechanism aimed at high-flyers within the organisation.  Fifteen candidates were selected and the remainder had individual development programmes designed for them as a result.

Champneys Health Resort
Assisting in carrying out an audit among staff and managers through questionnaire design and development and consultancy advice on sampling, selection and data collection which ensured that a sound internal survey was carried out upon which future H.R. policy was planned.

Employment Service
Evaluating a back-to-work scheme for long-term unemployed candidates with disabilities which assisted the Employment Service in deciding whether to continue with the programme.