A prActicAl guide Benchmarking in european Higher education
A prActicAl guide Benchmarking in european Higher education
A prActicAl guide Benchmarking in european Higher education
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5. A STEP BY STEP APPROACH<br />
5.1 Introduction<br />
The review of the literature <strong>in</strong> the previous section demonstrated a range of<br />
def<strong>in</strong>itions, concepts and approaches to benchmark<strong>in</strong>g. Besides the literature,<br />
our <strong>guide</strong>l<strong>in</strong>es are based on our analysis of 18 exist<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>itiatives <strong>in</strong><br />
higher <strong>education</strong> benchmark<strong>in</strong>g from countries <strong>in</strong> Europe, Australia, Canada<br />
and the USA. The extensive project onl<strong>in</strong>e tool conta<strong>in</strong>s a bibliography with<br />
search facilities, enabl<strong>in</strong>g readers to become further acqua<strong>in</strong>ted with these<br />
concepts and practices.<br />
For the purposes of the project, the term ‘benchmark<strong>in</strong>g’ has been def<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
as the voluntary process of self-evaluation and self-improvement through<br />
the systematic and collaborative comparison of practice and performance<br />
with similar organisations. This process allows <strong>in</strong>stitutions to identify<br />
strengths and weaknesses, and to learn how to adapt and improve organisational<br />
processes <strong>in</strong> order to face grow<strong>in</strong>g competition.<br />
50 A Practical Guide - <strong>Benchmark<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> European <strong>Higher</strong> Education
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