FAQ about peer-to-peer strategy consulting

Strategies for digitization in studying and teaching are aimed at the contemporary and innovative development of studying and teaching. The basis for this is the elaboration and development of a concrete profile for the university in the digital age as well as concrete measures for the strategic, university-specific further development of studying and teaching (motivation of teaching staff, support structures, resources, etc.). Writing and adopting a single strategy paper is less of a priority than creating university-specific profiles and translating them into concrete measures. Digitization must never be an end in itself and should be seen as a cross-cutting issue.

At the core of the program is the strategic (further) development of study and teaching. Research and administration are taken into account if they are clearly related to the strategic development of teaching and learning. A pure consideration of research or administration cannot be done within the framework of the program.

The universities are selected by a selection committee consisting of the steering committee of the Hochschulforum Digitalisierung and external experts. Central to the selection is that the university is able to formulate clear goals for the design of study and teaching in the digital age and convincingly demonstrate how the peer-to-peer strategy consulting process will sustainably support the development and subsequent implementation of measures that serve to achieve these goals.

This also means that peer-to-peer strategy consulting can be useful both for universities that are already very successful in the context of digitization in teaching and learning and, where applicable, are primarily aiming for area-specific further developments, as well as universities that are just starting out here and want to tackle comprehensive change management, for example. However, initial strategic approaches and measures should be in place and can be reflected upon in the consulting process.

Essential criteria for the selection are a 1) coherent overall concept, 2) Clear challenges and goals, 3) suitable preliminary work, 4) the sustainability of the consultation as well as 5) convincing measures for the participation of all actors and status groups relevant for digitization in studying and teaching.

Yes, universities that have already submitted an expression of interest in the previous rounds of calls and were not selected can also submit an expression of interest again. This also applies to universities that have applied for the state program in Baden-Württemberg.

The expression of interest should describe the development status of the examination of the further development of studying and teaching in the digital age as well as previous activities of digital teaching and learning, identify a maximum of two strategic focus topics with the associated goals of the university as well as explain a concrete strategic challenge that is to be worked on with the help of peer-to-peer strategy consulting. It will also explain how peer-to-peer strategy consulting is integrated into higher education development and sustainably anchored in the further development of higher education strategies and concrete implementation measures. Measures for the participation of all relevant stakeholders and status groups in the consultation process must also be presented conclusively.

Following the deadline for submission of expressions of interest, participating universities will be selected for the seventh round of peer-to-peer strategy consulting by a panel of judges in July 2023 (see above). Universities that have applied will receive feedback on their expression of interest by the end of July 2023.

The network of the Hochschulforum Digitalisierung provides a pool of experts with various competence profiles from different status groups at universities (university management, lecturers, students, etc.) as well as from business and civil society. Based on the specific challenge that the participating university would like to work on within the framework of the program, suggestions for suitable experts will be made to each participating university. The university can already make concrete suggestions in the expression of interest regarding possible fields of competence and perspectives of the external peers. The final selection of the consulting experts is made in consultation with the respective university.

The Hochschulforum Digitalisierung bears the travel expenses and per diems of the peers. The participating universities bear the costs for the catering of the two workshop days at the university, provide rooms and working materials (metaplan walls, etc.). In addition, a joint dinner of the Hochschulprojektteam, the peers and the representatives of the Hochschulforum Digitalisierung is part of the event. In addition, the university will probably bear the travel expenses of its own university representatives to one of the overarching workshops of all participating universities.

Each selected university puts together a project team consisting of central actors (representatives of the departments, students, teachers and (relevant) central or decentralized institutions) for the further development of teaching and learning and the university management. The participation of the university management is essential for the analysis and reflection of the profile and goals of the university as well as for the development of future-oriented measures. The university management must therefore be centrally involved in the process so that the results of the consultation can be sustainably incorporated into the further development of teaching.

All representatives relevant to the strategy process should participate in the consultation process. The project management for the peer-to-peer process should also be assumed by a member of the university management, for example the Vice President for Studies and Teaching or the Prorector for Digitization. It is desirable that the president or rector also attends the counseling days. However, participation of all members of the Presidium is not required.

For universities that have not been selected for the peer-to-peer process, the Hochschulforum Digitalisierung creates regular opportunities to exchange ideas with other universities on strategic considerations, objectives, key challenges and measures. All flanking offers for the peer-to-peer process will be announced on the Hochschulforum Digitalisierung website.