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In accordance with the contractual agreement between the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) and Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), CCL engaged an independent external agency (EKOS Associates), to conduct the summative evaluation of CCL’s achievements since its inception in 2004.
This document constitutes CCL’s response to the findings and recommendations of the summative evaluation. In addition to reflecting on the comments provided by stakeholders and on the recommendations made in the summative evaluation, we have also undertaken a critical self-assessment of our performance. Based on the lessons gleaned from external and internal reviews, CCL has developed a series of proposals to strengthen our operations and effectiveness in a second term, in order to optimize the benefits to Canadians of investments in an independent organization dedicated to lifelong learning.
I would like to express CCL’s appreciation for the time that hundreds of individuals have taken to contribute to the summative evaluation through surveys and in-depth interviews or as part of an international expert panel. As a learning organization, we value both the many positive statements regarding CCL’s work and the suggestions of ways to improve the effectiveness of our organization.
CCL is pleased that the evaluation found that “CCL has been successful in identifying knowledge gaps, creating knowledge exchange networks, creating partnerships, improving the volume, quality and relevance of research and information on learning, and increasing the volume and quality of learning research exchanged.”
The evaluation also recognized the value of an independent voice on learning “The CCL is the only existing Canadian organization that provides a national and independent perspective in the analyses, interpretation and in the presentation of research on lifelong learning, and according to the majority of key information interviewees, and the literature review, much of what the CCL does complements the work of other organizations…While alternative funding models and arrangements for conducting learning research exist both nationally and internationally, it is unlikely that they would be able to achieve the same results as the CCL (i.e. independent and innovative research and dissemination of information).”
The expert panel reinforced the importance of an organization such as CCL, pointing out that “[in Canada], as in other countries, societal, community and personal needs for lifelong learning are expanding,” and that Canada “has particular needs to encourage and support work-life learning to maintain competent working lives and for longer.”
Overall, the summative evaluation found that CCL is relevant and fills an acknowledged need in the field of lifelong learning; that CCL has been successful in achieving its mandate despite its short lifespan to date; and that CCL operates in a cost-effective manner, complementing the work of other organizations. We were gratified that “Interviewees across all categories provided examples of positive impacts resulting from the CCL’s knowledge exchange networks.”
The goals that led to the establishment of CCL in 2004 are as important today as they were then: CCL makes an important contribution to the Government of Canada’s commitment to achieve a “knowledge advantage” for Canada by creating the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world.
Looking ahead:
Its original funding agreement expresses CCL’s mandate as follows:
Through the summative evaluation, stakeholders have provided many thoughtful comments and recommendations on ways CCL can add to its effectiveness in each of these areas. In particular, CCL has already begun to augment its emphasis on developing interactive tools. Through initiatives such as its online adult literacy assessment tool, the powerful ECHO platform, the Learning Infoway, the Reading the Future report and its related on-line applications, CCL is continually creating new opportunities for individual Canadians and stakeholder organizations to make tangible and practical use of the learning tools that CCL provides.
Governments at all levels have benefitted from numerous projects conducted in partnership with them or at their request through CCL, in response to research priorities which they themselves have defined. Similarly, employer organizations, labour groups, Aboriginal organizations, municipalities, communities and NGOs have benefitted from CCL-supported research and analysis that have enhanced our understanding of “what works” in the broad learning field. Some of these examples are captured in the summative and formative evaluations.
In continually striving to increase the breadth and depth of its reach, CCL intends to place even greater emphasis on measurement of its achievements and impact. During its first term, CCL tracked use of its website and readership of its electronic newsletter and monitored stakeholder use of its research and other products. CCL also conducted a major stakeholder survey, and two others were carried out by independent agencies to inform the formative and summative evaluations.
In conclusion, we are pleased that the summative evaluation found that CCL has made a major contribution to the public interest through its monitoring, reporting, knowledge exchange and research functions, which have enhanced the quantity and quality of information available to enable individual Canadians, civil society organizations, employers, communities and decision-makers at all levels of government to make evidence-based decisions in the domain of learning.
In a time of economic uncertainty and financial challenges, CCL believes that its work is part of the solution.
Investments in human capital will distinguish successful societies from their less vigilant competitors. Research has demonstrated that the rate of return from investments in lifelong learning is consistently high: for every dollar invested, our society reaps many dollars in exchange, through higher productivity and innovation, improved population health and greater career opportunities. In this difficult economic context, the importance of CCL’s work to made-in-Canada solutions becomes even more striking.
The value proposition of CCL lies in its demonstrated capacity to provide the objective information and analysis that enable Canadians to make evidence-based decisions about learning, and to track progress. This information is crucial to our continued ability to compete. Because there is no other national organization that can provide this service to Canadians, CCL is central to Canada’s Knowledge Advantage.
CCL looks forward to continuing its work in the public interest.
Paul Cappon President and CEO