Proposal evaluation
Introduction
VLIR‑UOS plays a central role in Belgium’s academic development cooperation, strengthening partnerships between Flemish universities and institutions in the Global South. For the ICP Connect 2025 cycle, Paeradigms’ Senior Partner served on the official selection committee, supporting a rigorous process to identify high‑quality international master’s programmes. The role reflects recognised expertise in sustainable development, international higher education, and evaluative practice, contributing to a transparent and evidence‑based decision‑making process.
Objectives
1) Provide expert assessment of concept notes and full proposals, reviewing their relevance, coherence and alignment with global development priorities.
2) Evaluate academic design, methodological soundness and proposed implementation approaches.
3) Review institutional fit, partnership structures and proposed governance arrangements.
4) Deliver written feedback and scoring inputs to support transparent, high‑quality selection outcomes.
Outcome
1) Comprehensive assessment forms and written evaluations for all proposals reviewed in Stage 1 of ICP Connect 2025.
2) Constructive feedback highlighting strengths, weaknesses and areas requiring revision to meet VLIR‑UOS quality standards.
3) Active contribution during the selection committee meeting to support final scoring and ranking decisions.
4) Support for a transparent, criteria‑driven process that prioritised high‑quality proposals for advancement to the next stage.
Background
ICP Connect supports internationalised master’s programmes that embed global perspectives, promote inclusive education, and address sustainable development challenges. The selection process assesses programme relevance, design quality, feasibility and expected impact. Participation in the selection committee demonstrates Paeradigms’ ongoing commitment to strengthening academic cooperation and contributing to initiatives that advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
Approach
1) Reviewing all documentation submitted through VLIR‑UOS systems, including proposals, institutional information and background materials.
2) Applying the full set of selection criteria covering relevance, design quality, implementation feasibility and sustainability.
3) Participating in structured selection committee deliberations while upholding independence and adherence to the VLIR‑UOS code of conduct.
4) Preparing written assessments and provisional scores for each proposal, following established selection descriptors and guidance.
