Eden evaluation and insights

The Education Evaluation and Insights Team supports education and student experience through evaluation, research, and analysis. 

We work in partnership with academic and professional services colleagues across LSE to collect, analyse, and report on insights that support our strategic priorities and educational decision-making. Our projects directly inform the Access and Participation Plan, the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), and the wider Education and Student Experience Strategy

This page contains recent reports and findings from our work. You can also visit our Evaluation Funding and Resources page to learn about support available for evaluation projects. 

We are here to help. Whether you're planning a new educational initiative, need support with impact assessment, or would like to discuss evaluation design, we would be happy to work with you! 

Get in touch via eden.evaluation@lse.ac.uk.

Declining Lecture Attendance

Declining Lecture Attendance at LSE (2025) 

This research report examines the decline in lecture attendance at LSE, drawing on surveys of 165 academics across 25 departments and student focus groups. It finds contrasting explanations between staff (who emphasize lecture recordings and motivation) and students (who cite quality, relevance, and structural barriers) and proposes targeted interventions including enhanced academic support and career guidance.

Read the full report (pdf) 

Keywords: Lecture attendance, student engagement, pedagogy, teaching quality, student experience 


 

LSE Navigate

LSE Navigate: Supporting Contextual Offer Holders (2025) 

This participatory research project worked with 16 students over 6 weeks to explore the transitional experiences of contextual offer holders at LSE. Through digital diaries, creative workshops, and photovoice methods, this report identifies key challenges including academic adjustment, belonging, career uncertainty, and financial pressures, proposing comprehensive support interventions from pre-arrival through graduation.

Read the full report (pdf) 

Keywords: Contextual offers, widening participation, student transition, belonging, equity and inclusion, participatory ethos.


 

Evaluating the Impact

Evaluating the Impact of Contextual Offers at LSE (2025) 

This peer-reviewed article uses mixed-methods contribution analysis to evaluate LSE's contextual offer policy for 2022/23 admissions. The research demonstrates that contextual offers successfully widened access for targeted students despite the institution's highly selective intake, providing evidence-based insights for admissions policy in elite universities. 

Keywords: Contextual admissions, contextual offers, widening participation, higher education policy, contribution analysis 

Publication: Read the article in Higher Education Quarterly 


 

Engaging Undergraduate StudentsJPG

Engaging Undergraduate Students in Citizen Science: Measuring Air Pollution as a Pedagogical Approach (2024) 

This book chapter, co-authored with Prof. Thomas E.L. Smith in Outdoor Learning in Higher Education explores how citizen science air pollution projects enhance environmental education by enabling students to engage with knowledge creation, data integrity, and policymaking as complements to traditional classroom pedagogy. 

Keywords: Citizen science, environmental education, outdoor learning, experiential learning, air quality 

Publication: Read the chapter on Taylor & Francis


 

Peer Study Groups

Peer Study Groups at LSE: Evaluation Report (2023) 

This evaluation of LSE's Peer Study Groups programme for 2021-22 identifies three distinct models: Seminar Groups (coursework-focused), Study Groups (cohort-level support), and Transition Groups (welcome activities). Based on departmental surveys and student focus groups, the report finds that groups with clear purpose and assessment links are most successful, recommending improved guidance and early support for group formation. 

Read the full report (pdf)

Keywords: Peer study groups, collaborative learning, peer support, student engagement, community building 


 

AI use in Assessment

AI Use in Assessment in Management Courses (AY 2023/24) 

This study examines students’ declaration on the use of AI in assessment in two management courses taught by Assistant Professor Nayat Horozoglu at LSE during the 2023/2024 academic year. The findings revealed a growing prevalence of AI-supported practices in assessment, identified the most used AI tools, and illustrated patterns of AI use across different learning purposes. The study also investigated the association between the use of AI in assessment and final grade awards.

Read the full report (pdf)  

Keywords: AI in assessment, AI policy, AI tools, pedagogy, management courses, student outcome