RICHeS is a long-term, £80 million investment from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Publicly funded, we are guided by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)’s Evaluation vision, which aims to make “evaluation integral to our policy development and decision-making.”
RICHeS are committed to tracking impact and learning lessons throughout the programme and we would like to thank all participants who have shared their thoughts through engagements and consultations, helping us shape the next steps.
Independent Evaluation led by Human Economics
Human Economics has been appointed by the AHRC to evaluate the RICHeS programme over its five-year implementation period. The evaluation will assess whether the programme achieves its objectives and delivers its intended benefits, while also ensuring lessons are learned for future large-scale AHRC infrastructure initiatives.
During RICHeS’ first year, Human Economics has focused on developing a robust Evaluation Framework and delivering the first set of evaluation reports. These reports provide a benchmark against which the programme’s impact and value for money will be assessed.
The RICHeS Evaluation Platform (REP)
In collaboration with i2 Media Research, Human Economics has developed the RICHeS Evaluation Platform (REP), an innovative digital tool designed to support the independent evaluation of the programme.
The REP was used to run the RICHeS baseline survey and will continue to gather insights from across the heritage science community. It makes participation easier, offering community forums, polls and other tools that allow users to engage in dialogue and help shape the future of heritage science investment.
We encourage all members of the community to sign up, join the conversation and contribute to forthcoming evaluations via the RICHeS Evaluation Platform. Your feedback will play a vital role in shaping the programme and the future of UK heritage science.
