Peer-to-peer strategy consulting is a valuable tool for universities that want to actively participate in the digital transformation of higher education. In particular, the focus is on strengthening innovative, digitally supported teaching and learning scenarios in strategic development. Strategy consulting is aimed specifically at university management teams as key players who initiate a process that is supported and shaped by the entire university.

As part of the programme, existing activities, structures and measures in the context of digitalisation in studies and teaching are analysed. Their relationship to the objectives set by the university is analysed. The focus of the consultation process should primarily concentrate on studying and teaching, but may also include other areas of performance, provided they serve to improve studying and teaching.

In a participatory process, accompanied by external experts ("peers"), medium and long-term goals for various strategic fields of action are defined together with all relevant internal university stakeholders. In addition, good examples from practice are identified and university-specific measures are developed. The peers, who take on the role of "critical friends" at eye level, are selected by both the University Forum for Digitalisation and Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences. Particular attention is paid to appropriate profiling in the university context.

Peer-to-peer strategy consulting consists of four interlinked elements. First, the selected university describes its initial situation in a self-reflection and analyses current challenges. These challenges and goals are then discussed and reflected upon together with the peer team during a two-day visit to the university. The Hochschulforum Digitalisierung documents these discussions in close cooperation with the university. On the basis of this documentation, the peers team, together with the Higher Education Forum on Digitalisation, prepares a first draft of a recommendation report within approx. 8 weeks of the university visit. After receiving and internally discussing the recommendation report, the university prepares a brief outlook in the form of an "action plan". This outlines the next steps in the strategy and implementation process and provides a concrete outlook on which priorities and measures from the peer-to-peer strategy consultation are to be implemented.

Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences is looking forward to working with the peers and is confident that this strategic consultation will make a decisive contribution to the further development of studying and teaching as well as to the digital transformation of the university.

About the Hochschulforum Digitalisierung (HFD): The Hochschulforum Digitalisierung (HFD) was founded in 2014 and is a joint initiative of the Stifterverband, the CHE Centre for Higher Education Development and the German Rectors' Conference (HRK). The HFD supports universities in shaping the digital transformation in higher education and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Figures & background:

• Universities participating in the 7th round (2023/24): 6
• Since 2017: 189 expressions of interest from approx. 145 universities
• Universities and alliances advised to date: 36 universities and 1 alliance (10 universities)
• The jury was made up of:
  
  
  • Dr Jens-Peter Gaul, Secretary General, German Rectors' Conference
  • Dr Mathias Winde, Extended Management Board, Stifterverband
  • Julius-David Friedrich, CHE Project Manager HFD, CHE - Centre for Higher Education Development
  • Dr Nicole Wöhrle, Head of the E-Learning Department & Acting Head of the Computer Centre, University of Freiburg
  • Prof Dr Alexandra Nonnenmacher, Vice Rector Education, University of Siegen
  • Ludwig Lorenz, Student, Bauhaus University Weimar
  • Oliver Janoschka, Head of HFD Office, Stifterverband

Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences is looking forward to the intensive exchange with the peers and is eagerly awaiting the results of the strategy consultation.