Inspired by Al-Israa University's mission to prepare qualified professionals who contribute to the development of Palestinian society, the Higher Diploma in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) is designed to equip graduates with the knowledge and professional skills required in the fields of monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning within humanitarian and development programs and projects.
The program focuses on developing participants' competencies in project design, the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems, conducting surveys and studies, analyzing results, and promoting the principles of governance, transparency, and accountability, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of development interventions and supporting sustainable development.
Graduates of the program are qualified to pursue careers in governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as local and international agencies, in positions such as Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Specialist, Coordinator, Officer, or Consultant, meeting the growing demands of both the Palestinian and international labor markets.
Study Plan
Year one
30 credit hours: first 12, second 9, summer 9.
Major Requirement
First semester
12 hours
Course
Code
Hours
Prerequisite
Details
ME5301
3
None
This course will introduce the learnders to the fundamental project management concepts and behavioral skills necessary to successfully initiate and lead projects for commercial and non-profit organizations and skillfully manage resources, schedules, risks and scope to achieve desired results. The course adopts a practical and hands-on approach through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion, case studies and exercises.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, First semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5302
3
None
This course will introduce the learnders to the components, basic concepts, principles, purpose and functions as well as the importance of MEAL in humanitarian and development contexts, and basic terminology (language) used in MEAL.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, First semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5303
3
None
Theory of change is a process of mapping the causal logic between interventions, their impacts, and the assumptions. This course will involve building and developing the program logic model, logical framework approach, results-oriented management, the theory of change approach, and applying them in developing sound Monitoring and evaluation systems.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, First semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5304
3
None
The course will introduce the data collection tools, including the mobile phone applications, and the Open Data Kit (ODK). It will include practical exercises to design applications and use the applications to collect data.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, First semester
Prerequisite
None
Second semester
9 hours
Course
Code
Hours
Prerequisite
Details
ME5305
3
None
This course will cover the practical aspects of designing and implementing MEAL activities, including how to develop a MEAL plan, how to select indicators and how to implement and monitor activities. It involves the aspects of budgeting for eavaluation, forming the evaluation team, developing comprehensive terms of reference (TOR) for evaluation exercise, and conducting baseline assessment, impact evaluationand real-time reviews.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, Second semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5306
3
None
This course will upgrage the skills of learners in mobilizing the resources fro the humanitarian and developmental projects through maiking them aware of the funding modalities, instruments and channels, and provide them with the negotiations skills and proposals writing, and proper reporting to ensure more engagement of donors.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, Second semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5307
3
None
This course will focus on The use of data for evidence-based decision-making, and will provide the learnders with the knowledge of how to analyse and use data for informed decision making, including the use of data to improve performance monitoring, program adaptation, and use of data for evidence-based decision-making.
It will involve practical exercise of data management, graphing, and analyzing qualitative and qualitative data, and using applications like (SPSS/Stata/R).
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, Second semester
Prerequisite
None
Summer semester
9 hours
Course
Code
Hours
Prerequisite
Details
ME5308
3
None
The course will describe the results chain, formulation of project results, performance indicators, baselines and targets, identifying assumptions and risks.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, Summer semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5309
3
None
The course will provide the learners with knowledge and competences to conduct planning and budgeting of different types of MEAL, and how to identify their requirements and design their budgets.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, Summer semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5310
3
None
The course will introduce in more details how the organization shall ensure accountability, particularly to the communities served, and the need for organizations to regularly and honestly .
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, Summer semester
Prerequisite
None
1
Appendix
Course Guidance
Every course in the program by requirement type. Each band is as wide as the type's share of the program's hours.
Course
Code
Hours
When
Prerequisite
Details
ME5301
3
Year one, First semester
None
This course will introduce the learnders to the fundamental project management concepts and behavioral skills necessary to successfully initiate and lead projects for commercial and non-profit organizations and skillfully manage resources, schedules, risks and scope to achieve desired results. The course adopts a practical and hands-on approach through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion, case studies and exercises.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, First semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5302
3
Year one, First semester
None
This course will introduce the learnders to the components, basic concepts, principles, purpose and functions as well as the importance of MEAL in humanitarian and development contexts, and basic terminology (language) used in MEAL.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, First semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5303
3
Year one, First semester
None
Theory of change is a process of mapping the causal logic between interventions, their impacts, and the assumptions. This course will involve building and developing the program logic model, logical framework approach, results-oriented management, the theory of change approach, and applying them in developing sound Monitoring and evaluation systems.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, First semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5304
3
Year one, First semester
None
The course will introduce the data collection tools, including the mobile phone applications, and the Open Data Kit (ODK). It will include practical exercises to design applications and use the applications to collect data.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, First semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5305
3
Year one, Second semester
None
This course will cover the practical aspects of designing and implementing MEAL activities, including how to develop a MEAL plan, how to select indicators and how to implement and monitor activities. It involves the aspects of budgeting for eavaluation, forming the evaluation team, developing comprehensive terms of reference (TOR) for evaluation exercise, and conducting baseline assessment, impact evaluationand real-time reviews.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, Second semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5306
3
Year one, Second semester
None
This course will upgrage the skills of learners in mobilizing the resources fro the humanitarian and developmental projects through maiking them aware of the funding modalities, instruments and channels, and provide them with the negotiations skills and proposals writing, and proper reporting to ensure more engagement of donors.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, Second semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5307
3
Year one, Second semester
None
This course will focus on The use of data for evidence-based decision-making, and will provide the learnders with the knowledge of how to analyse and use data for informed decision making, including the use of data to improve performance monitoring, program adaptation, and use of data for evidence-based decision-making.
It will involve practical exercise of data management, graphing, and analyzing qualitative and qualitative data, and using applications like (SPSS/Stata/R).
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, Second semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5308
3
Year one, Summer semester
None
The course will describe the results chain, formulation of project results, performance indicators, baselines and targets, identifying assumptions and risks.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, Summer semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5309
3
Year one, Summer semester
None
The course will provide the learners with knowledge and competences to conduct planning and budgeting of different types of MEAL, and how to identify their requirements and design their budgets.
Type
Major Requirement
When
Year one, Summer semester
Prerequisite
None
ME5310
3
Year one, Summer semester
None
The course will introduce in more details how the organization shall ensure accountability, particularly to the communities served, and the need for organizations to regularly and honestly .