On 2 and 3 September, Mauro Mediavilla, a researcher with the EvalPub group, gave a course at the University of Costa Rica entitled ‘Introductory Course in Public Policy Evaluation’. The organising institution was the School of Economics of the Faculty of Economic Sciences (University of Costa Rica).

The course programme offered participants an introduction to the theoretical and methodological foundations of evaluation, combining conceptual explanations and the analysis of real cases.

The sessions covered the main qualitative and quantitative approaches, including experimental and quasi-experimental methods, as well as the most common types of evaluation and the challenges of institutionalising them in Spain.

The course was aimed at academics, public administration staff, third sector professionals, private consultants and university students, who had the opportunity to reflect and debate on the usefulness of evaluation in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of public policies.