CHE

CHE – Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung /Centre for Higher Education Development - is a private non-profit organisation that was founded by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the German Rectors Conference (HRK) in 1994. The main aim of CHE is to promote reforms in German higher education. Based on international comparisons, CHE develops models for the modernisation of higher education systems and institutions. These models are defined in close dialogue with decision makers from higher education and politics. CHE undertakes research on higher education and develops political scenarios, but ultimately the activities aim at the realisation and testing of new organisational as well as steering and controlling models of higher education practice. On the basis of thus gained experience, CHE assists in further developing these models by carrying out pilot projects and by critically accompanying reform measures. A major aspect of modernisation is transparency. The development of a German ranking was seen as a vital instrument of transparency.

CHE established a ranking of German higher education institutions, both for universities and non-university institutions (the German “Fachhochschulen”) that was first published in 1998 and has been developed further since then in terms of scope and method. The CHE ranking is paradigmatic for field-based, multi-dimensional, interactive ranking that is following a grouping approach instead of league tables. CHE ranking has gained high international reputation that is documented in several international studies on rankings (e.g. Usher & Savino 2006; Marginson & Van der Wende, 2007).

Since 2004, CHE ranking has started to internationalize by including universities from Switzerland and Austria. In 2006/07 CHE was leading a project funded by the European Commission to test the inclusion of institutions from the Netherlands and Flanders. Currently most Dutch universities are participating in the ranking that will be published in May 2009; together with a number of institutions from other European countries (Italy, Romania, Hungary) which are offering programmes of particular interest to German (speaking) students.

Furthermore the European Excellence Ranking created – in a first pilot study for mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology - a genuine European ranking providing information to Master and PhD students.

CHE is actively contributing to IREG – International Observatory on Academic Ranking Ranking and Excellence and was deeply involved in the formulation of the “Berlin Principles”.