Benchmarking in European Higher Education
Benchmarking in European Higher Education is a project funded by the European Commission to improve benchmarking in higher education. The project is designed to help modernise higher education management and to promote the attractiveness of European Higher Education. It supports HEIs and policy makers to better realise the Lisbon goals and the Bologna Process.
Current project partners are:
- European Centre for Strategic Management of Universities (ESMU)
- Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE)
- International Centre for Higher Education Management (ICHEM), University of Bath
- Institute of Education (IoE), University of London
Key activities
The first phase of the project (2006-2008) aimed to better understand the concepts and practices of benchmarking with a view to improving and increasing their uses in higher education.
An analysis of collaborative benchmarking in higher education, either initiated by a single Higher Education Institution, by a European association, or a university network was carried out with extensive desk research, based on 14 criteria by which these could be characterised.
The project organised a Symposium in November 2007 to present and test preliminary project findings with representatives from HEIs. Three specialised practical workshops were organised in the spring of 2008 on benchmarking research, internationalisation and internal quality.
In a second phase these results are taken further with:
An analysis of collaborative benchmarking in higher education, either initiated by a single Higher Education Institution, by a European association, or a university network was carried out with extensive desk research, based on 14 criteria by which these could be characterised.
The project organised a Symposium in November 2007 to present and test preliminary project findings with representatives from HEIs. Three specialised practical workshops were organised in the spring of 2008 on benchmarking research, internationalisation and internal quality.
In a second phase these results are taken further with:
- Four benchmarking groups of HEIs for wide exchange, advice and best practices in workshops. These groups focus on governance, university-enterprise cooperation, curriculum reforms and lifelong learning;
- A broad online collaborative learning community;
- Benchmarking tools (questionnaires, reports, handbooks of good practices);
- Dissemination conferences associating other European networks and professional associations.
- An online tool with examples, advice and an online bibliography
- A practical handbook with a review of the literature and a step by step approach to benchmarking
- A report of extensive desk research carried out on benchmarking in higher education
- Guidelines for good practices for effective benchmarking
- An ongoing platform to promote exchange and good practices for benchmarking in hinger education
This project is funded with support from the European Commission. This web content reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained there in.