HIS-Institut für Hochschulentwicklung e. V.

What HIS-Institut für Hochschulentwicklung e. V. does

HIS-Institut für Hochschulentwicklung e. V. (HIS-HE) is a German non-profit registered association (eingetragener Verein, e.V.) headquartered in Hannover that operates under public mandate from all 16 German federal states (Bundesländer) to serve as an independent intermediary between universities and state ministries. The organization employs approximately 40 staff organized across five consulting divisions: Bedarfsplanung und Campusentwicklung (space requirement planning and campus development), Nachhaltigkeit und Energie (sustainability and energy), Organisations- und Strategieberatung (organizational and strategic consulting), Lehr-, Lern- und Arbeitswelten (teaching, learning and working environments), and Digitalisierung (digital transformation). Its core deliverable is expert consulting, evidence-based studies, evaluations, and planning services rather than technology products, with no proprietary software platform, AI models, or APIs disclosed.

HIS-HE generates revenue through commissioned studies, evaluations, planning consultancies, and expert assessments contracted directly with German universities, federal and state ministries, and federal-level policy bodies. The go-to-market model is consultative and relationship-based, with project-based pricing negotiated per engagement and no public fee schedule, no reseller channels, and no product distribution. The organization supplements consulting with knowledge dissemination through the HIS-HE Magazin, the Forum Hochschule publication series, HIS-Kurzinformation research reports, a content blog, and recurring sector forums (Forum Hochschulsteuerung, Forum Organisationsentwicklung, Forum Qualitätsmanagement, Forum Prüfungsverwaltung, Forum Krisenmanagement nach Cyber-Angriffen).

HIS-HE holds strategic relationships with the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), the Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI), the Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK), the Hochschulforum Digitalisierung (HFD), and the DAAD, and has conducted landmark federal-level mandates including the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz evaluation for BMBF and the 'Digitalisierung der Hochschulen' study for EFI (2017–2019) that fed directly into the Chancellor's expert report. Governance is provided by managing director Dr. Grit Würmseer and a supervisory board chaired by Dr. Stefan Niermann alongside Michael Döring and Sabrina Kriewald. Operating status is active with open job postings; geographic footprint is Germany-only with no disclosed international commercial activity.

Name

HIS-Institut für Hochschulentwicklung e. V.

Legal name

HIS-Institut für Hochschulentwicklung e. V.

Website

https://his-he.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HIS-Institut für Hochschulentwicklung e. V. is a German non-profit consulting and research association serving universities and state ministries across all 16 federal states with independent planning, evaluation, and advisory services for higher education development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Institutional Planning, Performance Management & Accreditation Liaison (EDADAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Higher Education Governance & Quality Policy Research (EDADADAI), Research, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Partnerships (EDADALAK), Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

Keywords

• Higher education consulting
• University campus planning
• Higher education research
• Higher education policy consulting
• Organizational development consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Hannover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Publicly Mandated Consulting and Research Services: HIS-HE operates as a non-profit association (e.V.) funded through public mandates, state ministry commissions, and institutional contracts. The organization is non-profit oriented and does not generate commercial profit. Revenue derives from commissioned studies, evaluations, planning consultancies, and expert assessments for universities and federal/state ministries across Germany.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HIS-HE delivers consulting, commissioned studies, evaluations, and planning services to German universities and state ministries across five core areas: space requirement planning and campus development, sustainability and energy, organizational and strategic consulting, teaching/learning/working environments, and digitalization. The institute acts as a neutral, evidence-based intermediary providing expert assessments, benchmarking, governance advisory, and policy analysis to support institutional and system-level decision-making in the German higher education sector.

Product overview

HIS-Institut für Hochschulentwicklung e. V. (HIS-HE) is a non-profit consulting and research organization that provides advisory services to universities and ministries in Germany. Rather than a software product company, it offers a portfolio of consulting services organized around five core areas: (1) Bedarfsplanung und Campusentwicklung (space requirement planning and campus development), (2) Nachhaltigkeit und Energie (sustainability and energy), (3) Organisations- und Strategieberatung (organizational and strategic consulting), (4) Lehr-, Lern- und Arbeitswelten (teaching, learning and working environments), and (5) Digitalisierung (digital transformation). The organization also publishes the HIS-HE Magazin (magazine) and maintains the HIS-HE Blog as knowledge dissemination platforms. These consulting services and publications work together to support universities in their strategic development across infrastructure, sustainability, organization, and digitalization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bedarfsplanung und Campusentwicklung Consulting services for space requirement planning (Bedarfsplanung), campus development and site planning, space control and management (Flächensteuerung und Flächenmanagement), review of spatial programs (Begutachtung von Raumprogrammen), research building planning (Forschungsbau), and building and infrastructure advisory (Gebäude und Infrastruktur) for German higher education institutions.
• Nachhaltigkeit und Energie Advisory services covering sustainable development, climate protection (Klimaschutz), energy supply and energy efficiency (Energieversorgung und Energieeffizienz), and environmental management (Umweltmanagement) for higher education institutions.
• Organisations- und Strategieberatung Strategic consulting including benchmarking, governance and strategy development, and advisory services for administration, services and IT for universities and state ministries.
• Lehr-, Lern- und Arbeitswelten Advisory services for teaching, learning and working environments including safety and health (Sicherheit und Gesundheit), and study, teaching, research and transfer (Studium, Lehre, Forschung und Transfer).
• Digitalisierung Digital transformation consulting services covering digital transformation of higher education institutions, including digitalization of administrative processes, online administrative services, and digital competencies in higher education strategy.

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIS-HE has conducted major commissioned studies for the EFI, including the landmark 'Digitalisierung der Hochschulen' (Digitalization of Higher Education) study (2017-2019). The results of this study were incorporated into EFI's annual expert report submitted to the German Chancellor. This represents a high-profile, strategically significant partnership at the federal policy level.
• Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIS-HE has conducted studies for the HRK within the MODUS project (Mobilität und Durchlässigkeit stärken), including studies on digitalization of recognition and credit processes and AI potential in recognition workflows. These studies contribute directly to HRK policy positions.
• Hochschulforum Digitalisierung (HFD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIS-HE has authored multiple working papers for the HFD, including studies on online administrative services (OZG), the role of CDOs/CIOs/VPs for Digitalization at universities, and digital competencies in higher education strategy. HFD is a major national platform for higher education digitalization dialogue.
• Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIS-HE has conducted the official government evaluation of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (Fixed-Term Research Contracts Act, WissZeitVG) on behalf of the BMBF, producing the 'Forum Hochschule 4|2011' report. This federal mandate represents the organization's most significant government commissioning relationship.
• DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIS-HE has collaborated with the DAAD on projects including the Erasmus Mundus programme MARIHE and studies on joint/double degree programme sustainability, contributing to internationalization and mobility frameworks.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft (Public Sector, Germany): Big-4 advisory firm with a substantial German public-sector practice serving federal and state ministries on organizational strategy, governance, and transformation. Comparable to HIS-HE on strategy and organizational consulting for the public sector, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
• McKinsey & Company (Germany): Global management consultancy with a public sector and education practice in Germany. Competes with HIS-HE for HE strategy, transformation, and governance mandates at the federal and state level, but as part of a much broader consulting portfolio.
• Deloitte GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft (Public Sector, Germany): Big-4 advisory firm with a German public-sector practice providing strategy, organizational, and transformation consulting to ministries and public institutions. Competes with HIS-HE for higher-education and science-sector consulting mandates at both state and federal level.
• Fraunhofer-Institut für Arbeitswirtschaft und Organisation (IAO): Fraunhofer institute conducting applied research and consulting on organizational transformation, digitalization, and workplace design. Comparable to HIS-HE's Organisations- und Strategieberatung and Digitalisierung pillars, with broader industry reach and stronger R&D scale.
• DLR Projektträger: Large German federal project management agency supporting BMBF and other ministries in administering research, education, and innovation programs. Comparable as a public-mandate intermediary executing commissioned studies and program evaluations at federal scale, though with a much broader thematic mandate.

Direct peers

• CHE Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung gGmbH: Germany's other leading non-profit HE consulting and benchmarking organization, headquartered in Gütersloh. CHE directly competes with HIS-HE in university rankings, governance consulting, and HE development studies for the same German university and ministry clientele.
• Institut für Hochschulforschung (HoF) Halle-Wittenberg: University-based higher education research institute conducting studies on German HE system development, governance, and academic profession. Highly comparable to HIS-HE's research function, frequently cited alongside HIS-HE studies in German HE policy discourse.
• IQ Consult GmbH: German consultancy specializing in higher education strategy, governance, and organizational development for universities and science institutions. Directly comparable to HIS-HE on the strategy and organizational consulting side, competing for similar German institutional mandates.
• Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft e.V. German non-profit association funding and analyzing higher education and innovation. Operates with a similar public-interest mandate to HIS-HE, producing studies, evaluations, and policy recommendations that influence the same Wissenschaftsministerien and HE institutions.

Emerging players

• Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR): Federal research institute providing evidence-based advice on building, urban development, and spatial planning. Directly comparable to HIS-HE's Bedarfsplanung und Campusentwicklung and Forschungsbau services, though focused on national-scale rather than HE-specific building research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/his-institut-f%C3%BCr-hochschulentwicklung-e-v

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HIS-Institut für Hochschulentwicklung e. V.