Centre for Higher Education
Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung
AbbreviationCHE
Established1994
FounderReinhard Mohn, Hans-Uwe Erichsen [de]
TypeNon-profit limited liability company (gGmbH)
PurposeHigher education reform
HeadquartersGütersloh, Germany
Budget (2018)
€5 million
Staff (2020)
50
Websiteche.de
Headquarters of the Centre for Higher Education in Gütersloh

The Centre for Higher Education (CHE) (German: Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung) is a German organization dedicated to higher education reform. Founded in 1994 by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and the German Rectors' Conference as a non-profit limited liability company, it is best known to the public for its published university rankings.

CHE University Ranking

Main article: CHE University Ranking

Introduced in 1998, the annual CHE University Ranking is the most comprehensive ranking of German universities and Fachhochschulen.[1]

Criticism

CHE has been criticized for lobbying the media, politics and society to increase the acceptance of tuition fees and "elite" universities. The relationship between CHE and Bertelsmann is seen as particularly problematic. Since CHE is largely financed by the Bertelsmann Stiftung, which is the majority owner of Bertelsmann, critics doubt the sociopolitical neutrality and non-profit nature of the institution and assume that CHE's policies are significantly influenced by the interests and ideas of the media corporation.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ "About the Ranking". ZEIT Campus. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  2. ^ Wernicke, Jens. Netzwerk der Macht – Bertelsmann. Der medial-politische Komplex aus Gütersloh (in German) (2nd ext. ed.). Marburg. ISBN 978-3-939864-02-8. OCLC 244292097.
  3. ^ Alidusti, Kyrosch (17 October 2007). "Wie das Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung Politik an Hochschulen macht". www.studis-online.de (in German). Retrieved 1 January 2021.
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