About the Course
A theory of change is “an explicit theory or model of how an intervention, such as a project, a program, a strategy, an initiative, or a policy, contributes to a chain of intermediate results and finally to the intended or observed outcomes.” (Funnel & Rogers, 2011, p. xix) . A theory of change describes how change occurs logically from the programme to its intended outcomes, and how these outcomes can be attained. It plays an essential role in social programme planning, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination. It is therefore important for social service professionals who are involved in programming to acquire the knowledge and skills to create and use theories of change effectively.
The course will equip learners with the knowledge and skills to create a theory of change for social programmes and present a theory of change as a logic model. The theory of change will in turn enable learners to plan, implement, monitor, evaluate, and communicate the programme more effectively.
Learners will gain knowledge of the basic principles and logic behind the creation of a theory of change, and the skills to create a theory of change and logic model for a chosen social programme. These knowledge and skills are transferable and scalable to other social programmes when they return to their workplaces.
Course Objectives
The course will equip participants with the knowledge and skills to create theories of change for social propgrammes. After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
Define what is a theory of change
Explain the role of a theory of change in social programming
Create a theory of change for a social programme and present it as a logic model.
Who Should Attend
Social service professionals, board members and corporates who are involved in planning, implementing, evaluating, and communicating about programmes, interventions and services. It is also suitable for anyone who is interested in learning about theory of change.
Award
Participants who meet 75% class attendance will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement by the Academy of Human Development and Social Service Institute.
Your Trainer
Mr Lim Wei Loong
Lim Wei Loong is a full-time researcher at Fei Yue Community Services, where he is actively involved in supporting the utilisation of research to inform practice and conducing research and programme evaluation trainings for Fei Yue’s researchers and practitioners. Having had more than ten years of experience conducting research in the practice context, Wei Loong understands the challenges social service agencies faced when utilising and conducting research. This has enabled him to deliver research trainings that are practice-based and responsive to realities on the ground.
Wei Loong holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Melbourne, a Master of Philosophy in Social and Developmental Psychology from the University of Cambridge, a Graduate Diploma of Social Sciences (Professional Counselling) from Swinburne University, and a Master of Science in Evidence Based Health Care from the University of Oxford. He is the recipient of the 2021 Gillian Nicholls Prize for an outstanding dissertation in the subject of evidence-based healthcare awarded by the University of Oxford’s Kellogg College. Wei Loong has also completed the WSQ Advanced Certificate in Learning and Performance (ACLP) and is currently pursuing his PhD at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
Wei Loong currently holds associate positions at various local Institutes of Higher Learning. He has also taught developmental psychology and social programme evaluation for other Academy of Human Development courses. Besides, Wei Loong also serves as a member of the Agency of Integrated Care’s Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Testimonials
Ether Kum, Counsellor
TOC is such a powerful approach and it has changed the way I view programe development. I feel more equipped and confident that the eventual programmes that are developed will be effective and aligned with the intended outcomes.
Pamela Loh, Singapore University of Social Sciences
TOC is an effective tool that can be used in any setting. I appreciate how the session has been designed in such a way that it is progressive in a systematic manner so that it is easy for us to understand.
Cheong Chow Hou Kelvin, Social Worker
This course helps me to make sense of the things I do in my programme and ensure they achieve intended outcomes. A good communication tool to funders to substantiate why we certain resources are needed for the programme to be successful.
