A prActicAl guide Benchmarking in european Higher education

A STEP BY STEP APPROACH
Gaining commitment
The perspective, nature and scale of the benchmarking exercise will determine
the degree of commitment needed and at what level in each higher education
institution to seek commitment. However, in all cases senior level commitment
is vital to ensure sustainability of the benchmarking exercise over time.
If benchmarking is taken seriously as a tool for strategic change, senior
management must be involved to give strategic directions and support to the
implementation of change.
A benchmarking exercise needs both top-down and bottom-up interactions
between decision-makers and staff at various levels. This will ensure both
ownership of the process and consensus in terms of implementation.
Staff engaged in the actual data gathering and daily management of the
benchmarking exercise need to demonstrate commitment to change,
reviewing processes and implementing new modes of operations.
The Aarhus Benchmarking Network – The Northern European Benchmarking
Project
In 2006, Aarhus University initiated a benchmarking exercise (www.
au.dk/benchmarking), inviting the four universities of Kiel, Bergen,
Gothenburg and Turku to join. All are multi-faculty higher education
institutions, with a broad range of science and teaching, and all are
located in the second largest town in their country.
The benchmarking exercise was launched for an initial three-year period
focusing on research management, management of international
Master’s programmes and PhD studies. Aarhus coordinates the initiative.
Annually, the universities’ Rectors meet. In addition, the partners organise
two to three face-to-face meetings every year and engage in intermediate
communication by email and by telephone.
62 A Practical Guide - Benchmarking in European Higher Education