For a training and research body, evaluation and feedback are crucial. Evaluation is conducted to gather feedback and reactions on the different aspects of the training from the participants. It determines if the training is well-organized and runs smoothly and if the participants learned and are satisfied with the activity. The information also helps improve the delivery of future training events.

Responding to the call of digital technology that is widely available, easy to use, efficient and inexpensive, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) has engaged the services of SurveyMonkey, the most popular and largest online survey provider with more than 20 million users worldwide. 

SurveyMonkey is a web-based survey software that will help the Institute conduct its training evaluation surveys. The new platform has been pre-tested in the end-of-training evaluation of the recently held Foreign Service Officers’ Cadetship Course and the Course on Political and Economic Analysis and Reporting which both yielded highly satisfactory ratings. All the participants received their evaluation forms and responded favorably via electronic mail (email).

The Institute will also utilize this platform for events planning and client satisfaction surveys of lecture forums, conferences, and webcasts organized by the Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies (CIRSS).

The digitization of the Institute’s evaluation process will make it easier to create, send, analyze, store, and retrieve evaluation documents. It will also offer a better alternative to the paper-based evaluation method previously done at the Institute.

FSI Training Specialists examine the features of SurveyMonkey.