The Group of Experts for Empirical Studies

Institutional Profile

GES – the "Group of Experts for Empirical Studies" – was founded in 1991 as a private research institution in Kassel/Germany. It is the aim of the institute to organize research and to offer consultancy services in various areas of education, of R & D, as well as on subsequent carriers of graduates and high qualified manpower. Thematic focus at present:

• Impacts of international mobility on scientific and professional competencies of students, scientists and highly qualified manpower
• Aspects of internationalisation of schools and higher education institutions in Europe
• International development cooperation: aspects of vocational training, higher education and placement of academics and professionals in threshold or developing countries – particularly the promotion of high-tech or otherwise innovative business start-ups in respective countries; capacity building of Chambers of Commerce or industrial associations

Since its foundation GES has carried out numerous studies and surveys on these topics. From 1995 onwards GES was also active in implementing and coordinating respective long-term programs in threshold or developing countries.

Network of Partners of GES

On a number of studies and surveys, GES is cooperating with partner organisations in Germany and in other countries. Most important partners during the last years were:

• The International Center for Higher Education Research (INCHER) at the University of Kassel/ Germany
• The Institute for Research on Higher Education (HoF) at Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg/ Germany
• The Zentrum für Schul- und Bildungsforschung (ZSB) at Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg/ Germany
• The Academic Cooperation Association (ACA), Brussels/ Belgium
• The Jain University, Bangalore/ India
• The Institut für Bildung, Entwicklung und Beratung (BEB), Bonn/ Germany

Both directors of GES are members of "CHER – Consortium of Higher Education Researchers", a world-wide alliance of scientists and experts in the field of research on higher education. Both are also guest researchers at the International Center for Higher Education Research (INCHER) at the University of Kassel.

International Experience

GES has carried out numerous international projects. Highlights amongst others are the evaluations of major mobility and educational programs of the European Union such as ERASMUS, SOCRATES, TEMPUS, TMR et al.. The involvement in these evaluations resulted in in-depth knowledge and experiences on European Higher Education Systems. In addition, GES has conducted and managed a significant number of scientific studies and long-term projects in Africa, Asia and in the Middle East– For example capacity building programs for Southern Indian Chambers of Commerce and other industrial associations, or entrepreneurship development programs in the Palestinian Territories for returnees trained in Germany etc. An overview of respective projects can be found on page "Projects".