Call for Candidate of External Evaluation Expert

TERMS OF REFERENCE 
The MICRO-GEAR project consortium searches for subcontracting an External Evaluation Expert (EEE) to provide an independent review, including recommendations, on the achievements of the project implementation and the overall performance against plans and objectives. 
The Consortium will consider applications and proposals of individual experts or organizations specialized in monitoring and evaluating educational projects at the European level. The expert must demonstrate the skills and experience required for an individual EEE. The fee mentioned in these Terms of Reference is intended as maximum contract value for the engagement as EEE, being the contract assigned to an individual expert or an organization. 
 
1. Summary of MICRO-GEAR project 
Micro-GEAR is supporting structural reforms in the higher education sector of the South Caucasus region, primarily focusing on Georgia and Armenia, with the aim of introducing and facilitating the broad proliferation of micro-credentials as a tool for improving relevance, quality and flexibility of higher education.  In line with the European Council’s Recommendation on a European approach to micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability, the project will update the National Qualifications Frameworks in both countries, build national consensus over principles of micro-credentialing, stimulate educational activities leading to micro-credentials and facilitate their mutual recognition. In order to validate the suggested reforms, to provide feedback to the policy level, as well as to facilitate the proliferation of micro-credentials, the project will implement the pilot program covering the capacity building on micro-credentials and the development of educational units leading to micro-credentials. Finally, the project dissemination and sustainability activities will spread the obtained results to all relevant education and training providers in the beneficiary countries and wider in the region. The Georgian and Armenian partners involved are: Ministries of Education, National Accreditation Agencies and ENIC Centers, Higher Education Institutions and representatives of training providers. On the European side, the project consortium includes 3 Higher Education Institutions of Germany, Italy and Spain with complementary competences, the Italian ENIC - NARIC Centre and a Quality Assurance Expert Company.   
 
The overall objective of the Micro-GEAR project is to contribute towards further modernization and improving responsiveness of the system of Higher Education in Georgia and Armenia by supporting the nation-wide policy and legislation reforms aimed at the introduction of micro-credentials into the regulation and educational practice as relevant, flexible and efficient means of delivering education and skills. 
 
External evaluation as one of the activities (performance monitoring, risk detection and mitigation, quality control of deliverables, cost effectiveness and efficiency control) under the overall Quality Control Framework and implies selection of the credible external evaluation expert through a competition, who will be in charge of evaluation of the quality of project implementation (e.g. principle deliverables, KPIs, overall status of work, etc.) at 2 points: month 18 and at the project end. Two evaluation reports will be provided to the project team (via the coordinator) for analysis and decision making. 
 
2. Expertise and skills required for the external evaluator 
Qualification 
The candidate must have at least an MSc degree in any area, but Educational Sciences is preferable. 
 
Skills and experience 
EEE must demonstrate some relevant skills, including: 
• Proven professional experience in the evaluation and monitoring processes of international collaborative projects (previous experience in EU-funded project is an asset); 
• Understanding of quality processes, expected activities, outputs, and quality review processes; 
• Knowledge of Erasmus+ projects, HE system, Quality Assurance (ESG); 
• Knowledge of the partner countries’ educational system and local conditions is an asset; 
• Language skills (advance knowledge of English); 
• ability to effectively communicate evaluation results and to provide a professional and independent review, the individual EQE shall not have any concurrent contractual engagement with the consortium members. 
 
3. Tasks and Deliverables 
Tasks 
 
• to review MICRO-GEAR processes and products, according to the evaluation criteria of relevance and fulfillment of objectives, development effectiveness, impact, and sustainability, for project/program evaluation; 
• to prepare the intermediate (on Month 18) and final (on Month 36) external evaluation reports; 
• each 6 Months to provide feedback in the form of the online sessions on quality assurance processes and methodologies to the project consortium 
 
Deliverables 
 
• Mid-term report about project implementation provides an external perspective to achievements so far reached and the overall performance of the Project against plans and objectives; it also provides recommendations on the various aspects of Project implementation, including quality of the deliverables, consortium working relations, internal communication, processes, results (deadline 31.06.25) 
• The final report ensures an external and professional perspective into project processes and results and captures the overall quality of the project in all its It also provides valuable lessons learned and good practices to inform partners’ work in further exploiting project results beyond its lifetime. (deadline 1.09.26) 
• A series of feedback sessions provided for the MICRO-GEAR consortium members will strengthen the implementation of the project 
 
Conditions for the service 
EEE is provided full access to all project documentation empowering her/him to carry out a thorough assessment of the project. EEE undertakes to carry out the required service within the specified timeframe. EEE agrees to maintain the confidentiality of data generated or disclosed during the provision of the needed service. 
 
4. Total Fee 
The total fee for the engagement of the EQE is up to EUR 5.000,00, with all taxes included. 
 
5. Deadline and requirements for the application 
The deadline for presenting the application for the job is: 
 
March 31, 2025. 
 
The application shall be sent by email at the following address: 
zaza@gtu.ge  
 
Applicants shall present their CVs, clearly demonstrating the skills, competencies, and experiences required in these terms of reference. In addition, the applicant must submit a short memo/abstract on how he/she intends to perform the assignment.