Digital Technologies for Sustainable Social Services: The EVOSST Approach to Impact Assessment

As digital technologies continue to reshape social services, the Evaluation and Valorisation of Social Services for a Sustainable Transition (EVOSST) project aims to improve how the long-term impact of these services is assessed through innovative technologies. As the leader of Work Package 2 (WP2), National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest (POLITEHNICA) coordinates activities related to data collection, dynamic modelling and the analysis of long-term social service impacts.

A key part of EVOSST’s methodology is the development of dynamic models to better understand how the impacts of social services evolve over time. This approach draws on data from different sources, including national databases, local service providers and targeted community surveys. By collecting and combining these data, the project aims to support longitudinal analyses that provide a clearer picture of the long-term effectiveness and impact of social services.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies play an important role in the EVOSST framework, particularly in the development of predictive models aimed at assessing the potential impacts of social services across different demographic groups. These AI-driven models are expected to support decision-making and resource allocation by helping policymakers anticipate future needs and plan more effective interventions. Additionally, AI-powered platforms, such as adaptive learning management systems tailored to vulnerable populations, including individuals on the autism spectrum, demonstrate the potential of these technologies to support more inclusive and responsive social services.

The project’s technological innovations are expected to support the evaluation of social services and the prediction of their long-term impacts. These models aim to help policymakers and practitioners evaluate the effectiveness of social services and anticipate changing social needs. Furthermore, EVOSST aims to strengthen the application of Social Return on Investment (SROI) by integrating AI and data analytics into its evaluation framework, with the goal of providing more comprehensive assessments of the value and effectiveness of social services.

Through its interdisciplinary and collaborative approach, EVOSST contributes to the development of more sustainable and inclusive social services. The technological solutions being developed and tested within the project aim to support policymakers and social service providers in measuring, understanding and improving the impact of social services. In this way, EVOSST highlights the potential of digital technologies to support more effective, sustainable and inclusive social services across Europe.

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