The OMG Center for Collaborative Learning (OMG) recently concluded a year-long evaluation of Eisenhower Fellowships programs. OMG’s evaluation was conducted through a survey of all Fellows, in-depth case studies of 15 Fellows, and interviews with EF staff and trustees. The focus was on discerning impacts EF’s programs have had on Fellows, their institutions, and societies. Here is a snapshot of the findings:
Fellowship as a positive experience
When asked to rate the program’s overall effects on their development, fellows responding to OMG’s survey gave the experience a high score of 3.7 on a scale from 0 (an extremely negative experience) to 4 (an extremely positive experience). The study also found that alumni are very satisfied with activities during the fellowship, particularly meetings with professionals and discussions among cohort members
Fellowship as a powerful experience
Individual effect: Eighty-one (81) percent of respondents said that the program had a moderate to strong effect on all of the following: their professional knowledge, international perspective, understanding of the U.S. (or country visited), ideas and plans for their work, personal and professional goals, self-confidence, their ideas about leadership, and their perception of themselves as a leader.
Organizational effect: Fifty-seven (57) percent of the fellows also reported organizational-level outcomes as a result of their fellowship experience. In particular, these respondents said that EF had led to improvements in their organizations or institutions.
Societal effect: Societal-level outcomes were difficult to attribute solely or directly to the program, but about half (51%) of the survey respondents said that EF had led to new programs, policies, organizations or institutions, which were often a result of strategic collaborations. Fellows’ descriptions of these outcomes, which are presented in the body of this report, paint an impressive portrait of new programs, policies, and collaborations.
Room for growth
By far the most common topic that fellows discussed when asked how they would improve the program was post-fellowship activities. Some made the general suggestion that EF strengthen the alumni network, including more frequent and more facilitated communication among fellows. Other suggestions dealt with strengthening alumni activities or associations in specific countries or regions, or becoming engaged in specific types of projects together.