International dimensions of multiple competition: German higher education institutions in international comparison

Prof. Dr. Uwe Cantner  (Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena)
Lukas Dreier (Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena)

Prof. Dr. Thomas Grebel (Technische Universität Ilmenau)
Amjad Aun(Technische Universität Ilmenau)

The project is based on the central result of the first funding phase: the low competitive dynamics in the German higher education sector. For this reason, in-depth analyses of higher education areas with higher dynamics will initially be carried out in analysis area A. These include transfer as a competitive dimension, international students in the competitive dimension of teaching and international academic staff in the competitive dimension of research. The analysis of tuition fees concludes these in-depth analyses. These analyses and their results have a preparatory character for the expansion of the analysis of the dynamics of multiple competition in the higher education system to include the international perspective. The findings obtained in phase 1 and analysis area A are to be reviewed and comparatively evaluated in an international context. To this end, three different higher education systems (USA, France and Germany) are compared with each other in analysis area B. These represent the spectrum of a (primarily) privately organised, a centralised and a federally organised higher education system.

The institutional specifics will be identified and their influence on the competitive dynamics and the competitive positioning of the universities will be measured at both national and international level. As a result, possible competitive advantages of the three different higher education systems will be identified and possible strategic alternatives for action will be discussed, which will make it possible to survive in international higher education competition. Analysis area C examines how German universities position themselves in the international higher education competition and what competitive dynamics they are subject to. Elements of national and international co-operation between universities are also taken into account.