An Indicator-based Approach to Environmental and Resource Management in a Globalised World - Implementing Environmental and Resource Management - page 310

23.3.2 Integration into the European Higher Education Market

Indicators of integration of BTU and competitivity of BTU graduates in the Euro-
pean higher education market are listed in Table 23.2 . The ultimate criterion of
success of an academic institution is the placement of graduates in recognised
Master and PhD programmes in Germany and abroad. We know that our students
are widely distributed among higher graduate study courses at other universities,
both in Germany and abroad. BTU is also well established with respect to national
accreditation of its study courses and the quality of its partner universities, even
though partner universities have been changing substantially since 1998. The
number remained relatively constant (around 20) while there was a strong turn-
over. On the other hand the state of the exchange of scientific personnel and the
number of joint and double degree programmes are unsatisfying.

Table 23.2. Competitivity indicators of BTU on the European higher education market

Indicator Degree of fulfil-

ment

Placement of graduates in recognized Master and PhD programmes ***

Number of accredited international study programmes ***

Quality of partner universities (full semester in English) ***

Number of incoming students from abroad **

Joint research projects with partner universities **

Number of foreign students holding scholarship **

Number of graduates from abroad within the described period of
study

**

Number of international post docs and scientists at BTU *

Worldwide exchange of scientific personnel *

Double and joint degrees with universities abroad *

*** good, ** satisfying, * to be improved

23.3.3 Employability of BTU Graduates

Another major criterion for academic success is the employability of graduates, of
which an overview is shown in Table 23.3 . Some criteria such as international top-
ics in class are only prerequisites, while others like placement in academic posi-
tions in Germany and elsewhere are real indicators. Despite the fact that some pre-
requisites are not fully satisfying, the main indicators are very convincing. Both in
practical fields and in academia our students are very successful. As to practical
fields, we know that most alumni are employed in larger companies. Large com-
panies tend to be more international than small companies, administrative bodies
such as environmental agencies, and even NGOs. Thus having international ex-
perience (one semester abroad) and being able to communicate in several lan-
guages are major advantages of our graduates which are appreciated by large com-
panies.