Miller Research was commissioned by the Welsh Government to deliver an independent evaluation of the Intensive Learning Academies (ILA) Programme, a flagship initiative designed to strengthen leadership, innovation and system-wide capability across health and social care in Wales.

The ILAs bring together universities and public sector partners to deliver applied learning programmes that sit at the intersection of academic research and real-world practice. They aim to develop professionals who can drive innovation, lead system change and contribute to improved outcomes across the health and care system.

Our approach

We adopted a mixed-method, stakeholder-led approach, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques to capture a comprehensive view of programme performance and impact. This included:

• In-depth interviews with delivery leads, policymakers and stakeholders
• Focus groups with participants and alumni from each Academy
• A cross-programme survey to gather wider participant insights
• A desk-based review of programme documentation and performance data

This approach ensured that the evaluation reflected a broad range of perspectives, from strategic oversight to lived participant experience.

What we explored

The evaluation focused on a series of key themes to understand how the ILAs are performing and the difference they are making:

• Reach and engagement – who is accessing the programme and where, and what influences participation
• Barriers to access – including differences across health and social care
• Individual outcomes – such as skills, leadership development and professional networks
• Organisational impacts – changes to practice, service delivery and institutional learning
• System-level outcomes – the contribution of the ILAs to capacity and capability across Wales
• Research and innovation – the impact of ILA-led research and consultancy on policy and practice
• Partnerships and added value – the role of collaboration across sectors and institutions

Key insights

Findings from the evaluation highlight strong overall support for the ILA model, with participants valuing the opportunity to apply academic learning directly to real-world challenges. The programme has been particularly effective in building leadership capability, fostering collaboration, and supporting innovation across organisational boundaries.

The evaluation also identified opportunities to strengthen the programme further, including improving consistency of support for certain learning pathways, enhancing alumni networks, and building a clearer cross-programme identity to maximise collaboration and shared learning.

Impact

The ILA Programme is contributing to a growing cadre of leaders equipped to drive transformation across health and social care in Wales. By embedding learning within practice and linking academic research with system priorities, the ILAs are helping to build long-term capability and deliver tangible improvements in services and outcomes.

Outcome

The evaluation provides a comprehensive evidence base to inform the future development of the ILAs, supporting Welsh Government and delivery partners to refine the model, enhance its impact, and ensure it continues to respond to the evolving needs of the health and care system