Participant evaluations

The results of the evaluation of the eceee 2017 Summer Study has not been processed as a formal report. Some key figures are included below.

The 2017 Summer Study: Excellent ratings and high participation

The 2017 issue of the Summer Study was entitled Consumption, efficiency, limits. The Summer Study – the 13^th since 1993 – reinforced the position of the conference as Europe’s premier event for information exchange and networking on energy efficiency. At the Summer Study, the energy efficiency policy of tomorrow is formulated.

The 2017 edition of the eceee Summer Study was held at Presqu’île de Giens near Hyères in Southern France, and took place 1–6 June. This year’s event attracted almost 400 participants who spent five intense days listening to presentations and debating them, setting up and participating in informal sessions, solutions workshops, plenaries and around the clock networking.

The conference itself kept the high participant ratings with a very high 4.4 out of 5.0 for the conference as a whole. (This was the same as in 2013 which had seen the ratings jump up from having been around 4 for many years, and marginally lower than in 2015, when the event received a 4.5 rating.) The value-for-money rating also stayed with the all-time high of 4.2 reached in 2015 (up from 4.1 in 2013).

“The Summer Study, via paper presentations and workshops, provided me with insights into topical and evolving research fields and also facilitated introductions to individuals involved in my own … area.”

The Summer Study is a hotspot for international collaboration

“Very special about contacting new people at the Summer Study is the informal atmosphere, which supports an open and therefore engaging exchange.”

The Summer Study is an excellent event for networking and starting international collaborations. Of the respondents in the last years' participant evaluations:

Over 95% said they made new contacts, which will be useful in their professional life.
Over 95 % said they learned something new, which will be useful in their work.
Over 75 % said they made new contacts, which they believe will result in new international collaboration.

“The networking opportunities at the summer study are unparalleled – I have a fantastic time catching up with old friends and collaborators and making new ones. Each year it gets better on that front.”

“It is the most valuable event for sharing information internationally on the Energy Efficiency Calendar.”

Some countries dominate in presence but more countries involved

With participants from 30 countries the Summer Study remains a very international event (with country of origin typical ranging from 30 to 35 countries over the last four events).

The distribution among countries remains uneven. UK, Germany, Sweden, France and Belgium have most participants. The Brussels energy efficiency community started to find its way to the Summer Study in 2013 and their presence remain strong (hence the large Belgian contingent). Southern and Eastern European participants make up about five percent of the total. The affiliation of participants represents a good mix of researchers, practitioners, private sector, energy agencies and NGOs.

First time visitors

The Summer Studies keep attracting many first time visitors. Almost half of all participants were here for the first time, and the mix of old timers and newcomers contributes to the dynamics of the event.

High ratings for content and organisation

The content of the conference continues to receive consistently high ratings: proceedings keep receiving an average rating of 4.4. The panel sessions received a high 4.3 rating (4.2, 4.1 and 4.2 in 2011, 2013 and 2015 respectively), the display session’s rating had fallen back but was back at a high 3.9 in 2017. Informal sessions and plenaries got their highest ratings ever with 4.1 respectively.

eceee is also pleased to see that the organisational aspects of the conference are well received. The pre-conference registration, paper submission, payment and on-site organisation are valued highly by participants.

The venue keeps being highly appreciated by conference participants, although the location close to Toulon still presents logistical challenges to both participants and organisers.

Evaluation results by numbers

The below table summarises a few key areas regarding the content of the conference.

	2007	2009	2011	2013	2015	2017
Proceedings	4.4	4.5	4.4	4.3	4.4	4.4
Panel sessions	4.4	4.2	4.2	4.1	4.2	4.3
Display session	3.5	3.4	3.6	4.0	3.8	3.9
Plenaries	3.8	3.0	3.5	3.8	3.7	4.1
Informal sessions	3.9	3.9	3.8	4.0	4.0	4.1
Graffiti	4.3	4.2	4.4	4.2	4.2	4.3
Communication before event	–	–	–	4.6	4.6	4.6
Registration process	4.3	4.0	4.2	4.6	4.5	4.7
On-site organisation	4.4	4.3	4.5	4.6	4.5	4.7
Accommodation	3.5	3.1	4.4	4.2	4.1	4.1
Meals	3.5	3.5	4.0	4.2	4.1	4.1
Value for money	4.0	3.9	4.0	4.1	4.2	4.2
Total rating	4.0	3.9	4.1	4.4	4.5	4.4

Proceedings – the written legacy

A positive result over the longer term is that proceedings have consistently been rated very high, and that the high standard has been maintained over the years.

The consistent quality of the proceedings is particularly important, since they represent the written legacy of the summer study and is the product available for those who are not able to participate.