Students on our courses have offered the following feedback:
'The programme was exactly what I had been looking for. I wish to develop a career in social research because it allows you to engage with people's views on particular issues and present these to the people who are able to act upon them. I enjoy the challenge of trying to find answers and evidence that can contribute to the improvement of policy and policy-making that will hopefully, one day, lead to better welfare and wellbeing.'
Lisa O'Dea
MSc Social Policy and Social Research, 2015
‘Invaluable course that highlights the importance of systematic investigation to produce evidence.’
Jenny Preston, the University of Liverpool
Systematic reviews for policy and practice (workshops) Spring 2014/15
'This module is extremely timely. Research impact is rising rapidly up the agenda across the world in many public service sectors. If the application of evidence is to lead to significant improvements in practice and better outcomes for citizens, many parties - in practice, policy and research - need to be engaged in joint ventures.'
Dr Andrew Morris, Education consultant, UK
Research Engagement, Participation, and Impact (previously called Participative research and policy), December 2014
"This module enables you to understand the scope and limitations of systematic review for public policy and practice. It develops your skills so you feel confident to design and conduct your own systematic review."
Jude Enright, UK
Systematic Reviews for Policy and Practice, 2014-15
'This course really made me appreciate the difference between quantitative and qualitative systematic reviews and will go a long way in helping me decide on my dissertation topic.'
Rhiyoma Monique Ogadako, London, UK
Methods for Research Synthesis, Summer 2014 (now known as Systematic reviews: meta-analysis, qualitative synthesis, and mixed methods synthesis)
‘This is my first experience at a Systematic Review Research training and I am better informed. It stimulated my interest and I look forward to participating or carrying out one soon.’
Olayinka Adeyeye, MA Clinical Education student, IOE
Systematic reviews for policy and practice (workshops) Spring 2014/15
"I would highly recommend this course if you are interested in how research, policy and practice interact, and if you want to improve your critical appraisal skills in research."
Lauren Herlitz
Systematic Reviews for Policy and Practice, 2014-15
“This course helped me to understand that there are more than just numbers in evidence synthesis. A synthesis gets the best evidence in response to the research question, no matter if it comes from a clinical trial or a qualitative study.”
Herney Andrés García-Perdomo, University of Valle, Cali, Colombia.
Methods for Research Synthesis, 2013/14 (now known as Systematic reviews: meta-analysis, qualitative synthesis, and mixed methods synthesis)
"Going into a degree like this there is an element of wanting to create social change and improve society. This programme prepares you for that. It enables you to gain a realistic view of research, policy and practice over a range of different fields. The contact with other researchers and academics within the department has been great, and the encouragement and contact with staff has really helped, given the complexity of my dissertation."
Emma Dickinson
MSc Social Policy and Social Research, 2015
‘I am keen to explore how existing research data (qualitative or quantitative) can be synthesised to inform decision-making. The online training model afforded me the flexibility required to fit the course around competing commitments and there were several opportunities to put what was being taught into practice during the course. The facilitators were approachable and helpful.’
Funmi Oduniyi, Clinical Lecturer in Pharmacy, UK
Systematic Reviews for Policy and Practice, September 2011
'A highly relevant course for anyone with a passion for research synthesis. The inclusion of different views from both qualitative and quanititative perspectives made for engaging and innovative learning experience.'
Laurenz Langer, University of Johannesburg
Methods for Research Synthesis, Summer 2014 (now known as Systematic reviews: meta-analysis, qualitative synthesis, and mixed methods synthesis)
'Excellent training. It could be a prototype of a part of obligatory training of civil servants at the ministry level who have policy forming tasks.'
Ricardas Alisauskas, Ministry of Educational Science of Lithuania
Evidence Informed Policy, Bespoke training workshop, September 2010
'The staff at the EPPI Centre were wonderful. They had a wealth of knowledge and experience to offer. Their teaching materials were well-prepared and informative, the pace was appropriate, and they facilitated discussion and application of the information with planned activities. We were also able to explore tools such as the EPPI-Reviewer that they have developed to support the systematic review process.'
Elizabeth Kay-Raining Bird, Dalhousie University, Canada
Research Synthesis for Policy and Practice, Extended course, January 2009
'EPPI Centre are literally at the centre of a growing body of practice and policy learning calling for more knowledge and application of evidence-informed policy and practice in Europe.'
Ian Cumming, European Training Foundation
Evidence Informed Policy, Bespoke training workshop, September 2010
'Overall for me, I not only learned more about the technical process of systematic reviews but felt I also benefited from the discussions regarding both general systematic review issues and issues related to our team’s specific review.'
Stephanie Patterson, University of Alberta, Canada
Research Synthesis for Policy and Practice, Extended course, January 2009
'This course has been well organised and well thought through. I would not hesitate in recommending this to anyone working or interested in policy and research.'
Rebecca Smith, Biochemical Society
Evidence for policy, practice and personal decisions (now Research Engagement, Participation, and Impact), Spring 2008
'The workshop offered an in-depth overview of the subject at hand. We came back with knowledge, new ideas and practical advice (a lot of practical information and handouts) that can be immediately applied to our practices at different stages of systematic review projects. The EPPI Centre instructors were engaging and well-informed speakers who conveyed, patiently, their excitement about and knowledge of the field of systematic review that captured our attention for hours.'
Fataneh Farnia, University of Toronto
Research Synthesis for Policy and Practice, Extended course, January 2009
'The training took the participants, step-by-step, through the process of conducting a systematic review. Each of the instructors had participated in a number of systematic reviews on various topics and thus were able to speak to different problems that can arise, different approaches, and different solutions. The training was hands-on, practical, and extremely well organized... The training was an invaluable experience that will certainly enrich both my research and my teaching.'
Andrea A. N. MacLeod, Université Laval
Research Synthesis for Policy and Practice, Extended course, January 2009
'I would recommend this course to anyone who would like to know why user involvement in research is essential.'
Sudarshan Singh
Evidence for policy, practice and personal decisions (now Research Engagement, Participation, and Impact), Spring 2008