A prActicAl guide Benchmarking in european Higher education

Some implicit forms of benchmarking have always been part of higher
education with various forms of peer review and site visits encompassing
some aspects of benchmarking. What is new today is the use of explicit
benchmarking and the formalisation of processes. The growth of benchmarking
in Higher Education reflects the search for continuous quality
improvement and more effective ways of improving performance in an
increasingly diversified higher education sector.
For the newcomer to benchmarking it may be difficult to have a clear idea of
how to proceed to start and manage a benchmarking exercise. The handbook
will help with a clarification on concepts and practices of benchmarking.
Benchmarking is neither ranking nor accreditation. At the same time, the
handbook will provide valuable information for higher education institutions
which already have experience with benchmarking and are willing to take
their efforts a step further.
I would like to thank all our partners in the project team for their valuable
contributions to our research into benchmarking in higher education which
has led to his handbook. I do hope that this handbook will be a valuable tool
for leaders, decision-makers and staff in higher education in their constant
endeavours to improve university performance. At our own level we certainly
intend to take this initiative further in supporting European higher education
institutions with their strategic developments.
Frans van Vught
ESMU President
8 A Practical Guide - Benchmarking in European Higher Education