Brussels, 04 Mar 2003
Subject: Guidelines for assessment, monitoring and evaluation of COST Actions approved by the CSO on 6-7 February 2003
1. Introduction
In the activities for assessment, monitoring and evaluation of COST Actions, the following three levels are identified:
- Assessment of proposals of new Actions
- Monitoring of Actions in progress
- Evaluation of completed Actions.
Assessment, monitoring and evaluation activities are carried out by the Technical Committees (TC) assisted by the COST Office in accordance with the mandates established by the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) in their Terms of Reference.
This document is provided as a general guideline. Although each TC may adapt it to the specific needs of its domain whenever necessary and appropriate, there are key elements which apply to all. The document has to be considered together with the following documents, which are relevant to all assessment, monitoring and evaluation activities:
- "Rules and procedures for implementing COST Actions" doc. COST 400/01
- "Guide for proposers of new COST Actions" doc. COST 401/01 replacing "Guide for drafting the Technical Annex describing a COST Action" doc. 10/10/95
Funding for the assessment, monitoring and evaluation of COST Actions will be provided from the budget of the relevant COST domain.
The COST Office will co-operate with the Technical Committees in ensuring the overall scientific quality control of COST Actions.
2. Assessment of proposals of new Actions
The duties of the Technical Committees are specified in their Terms of Reference, which state that:
The TC is invited to identify, assess and prepare new COST Actions relevant to its domain. Such Actions should:
(i) have an innovative character and a high scientific standard and/or contribute substantially to the concertation of research efforts in that domain;
(ii) be based on careful considerations of interests, resources and budgetary consequences in the interested countries as well as on assessments of the added value expected to be achieved through the concertation;
(iii) be broad and flexible enough to permit an interdisciplinary approach and later inclusion of activities not foreseen during the preparation;
(iv) identify and take into account R&D efforts in other fora.
When submitting a new Action to the CSO for approval, the TC is requested:
(i) to ensure that the Technical Annex to the Memorandum of Understanding is structured as set out in the document "A Guide for drafting the Technical Annex describing a COST Action" adopted by the CSO on 10 October 1995 (or in any new document amending or replacing it);
(ii) to provide any additional information that the CSO may need for making a decision on the Action.
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