What Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE) does

The Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE) is an internal research and development centre of the University of Melbourne, established in 1968 and currently staffed by approximately 13 people. Its functional purpose is to generate and disseminate evidence-based practices that improve higher-education teaching, learning, student experience, internationalisation, and public policy. Its primary audiences are the University of Melbourne itself, the Group of Eight (Go8) Australian research-intensive universities, and selected external bodies (e.g., Vietnamese government-affiliated institutions and the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success).

CSHE's core outputs include: (i) the Interactive Oral Assessments (IOA) Guide, co-developed with the Faculty of Arts and explicitly positioned as a resource to support assessment security and academic integrity in the generative AI era; (ii) the Framework for Educational Excellence, a seven-dimension model for evaluating and improving educational practice; and (iii) a recurring Symposia series (e.g., the "Thriving in Uncertain Futures" symposium announced for 2026). Additional resources cover internationalisation of curriculum, Indigenous history in higher education, and student wellbeing.

The business model rests on three funding streams: (1) institutional funding from the University of Melbourne as an internal unit; (2) fee-for-service professional development, exemplified by the Specialist Certificate in University Teaching (SCUT) delivered in partnership with the Vietnam-Australia Centre; and (3) external research grants, including an Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES)-funded evaluation project across the Go8 network. Distribution is primarily through the University of Melbourne's institutional platform, symposia events, and direct cross-institutional partnerships rather than a commercial GTM motion.

Name

Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE)

Legal name

Centre for the Study of Higher Education

Website

https://melbourne-cshe.unimelb.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CSHE is the University of Melbourne's internal research and development centre, established in 1968, that produces evidence-based frameworks, assessment resources, and professional development programs for higher-education institutions across Australia and select international partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Research Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD) (EDAAALAE)

Keywords

• Higher education research
• Professional development programs
• Educational assessment frameworks
• Teaching and learning research
• Academic staff training

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. University of Melbourne Core Funding: As a research and development centre within the University of Melbourne, CSHE receives institutional funding as its primary revenue source to support its mission of improving higher education policy and practice.
2. Professional Development Programs: Fee-for-service professional development programs such as the Specialist Certificate in University Teaching (SCUT) delivered in partnership with international organizations.
3. Research Grants and Contracts: Project funding from external bodies such as the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success for capacity-building initiatives and impact evaluations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CSHE is a research and development centre that conducts research across higher education policy and practice, delivers professional development programs for academic staff, publishes evidence-based teaching frameworks and guides, and hosts symposia on higher education topics. Its offerings include teaching resources, assessment frameworks, and international professional development partnerships.

Product overview

CSHE is a research and development centre at the University of Melbourne established in 1968, focused on improving and utilizing evidence-based practices in higher education. Rather than a commercial software product, CSHE offers a portfolio of educational resources, frameworks, professional development programs, and research initiatives. The core offerings include the Interactive Oral Assessments Guide (web-based resource with detailed FAQs and case studies), the Framework for Educational Excellence (seven-dimension framework for teaching excellence), and the Symposia on Higher Education Research Informed Practice (event series). Additional resources cover topics such as engaging lectures, managing polarising classroom topics, and assessment design. CSHE also delivers professional development programs like the Specialist Certificate in University Teaching (SCUT) in partnership with international institutions, and conducts research projects on student equity evaluation across Australian universities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Specialist Certificate in University Teaching (SCUT) A nine-month fee-for-service professional development program developed in partnership with the Vietnam-Australia Centre, designed to build teaching capabilities of staff from Vietnamese partner organisations including the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.
• Symposia on Higher Education Research Informed Practice A series of half-day events providing opportunities to share research and scholarship on higher education, covering topics such as assessment, GenAI, inclusive learning, and teaching practices. Co-developed with Communities of Practice aligned with Advancing Students and Education.
• Framework for Educational Excellence A seven-dimension framework developed in consultation with staff and students identifying critical dimensions of staff activity that contribute to an excellent educational experience, providing structure for guiding teaching practice and staff performance review.
• Interactive Oral Assessments Guide A comprehensive web-based guide for educators on designing and implementing Interactive Oral Assessments (IOAs), covering format options, implementation strategies, quality assurance, and case studies.
• Student Equity Programs Impact Evaluation Initiative A capacity-building project funded by the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success to strengthen evaluation capability for student equity programs across Group of Eight institutions in Australia.

Quantifiable outcome

• Full participation achieved by all eight Group of Eight institutions in equity program evaluation collaboration
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Funding partner for project building capacity for impact evaluation of student equity programs across Group of Eight institutions. ACSES funding supported capacity-building grants program.
• Vietnam-Australia Centre (VAC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Nine-month professional development program (SCUT) designed to build teaching capabilities of staff from VAC partner organisations. Partnership combines VAC's understanding of Vietnamese educational landscape with CSHE's research and teaching expertise.
• Faculty of Arts Future of Assessment Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development of Interactive Oral Assessment resources including detailed practical guidance for subject coordinators. Working group provided firsthand experience designing and implementing IOAs.
• Victoria UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCUT participants visited Victoria University to learn about the Victoria University block model during a visit to the VU City Campus.
• Swinburne University of TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCUT participants engaged with Swinburne's Technology Learning Transformations Unit and Employability Unit to explore teaching innovation and work-integrated learning.
• Deakin UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCUT participants learned about Learning Futures team initiatives at Deakin University and explored virtual production studio facilities.
• Group of Eight Australian UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for impact evaluation of student equity programs. All eight institutions participated and committed to ongoing collaboration, each putting forward action plans for 2026.
• Equity by DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Nadine Zacharias from Equity by Design contributed as project lead for the Group of Eight equity programs evaluation collaboration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER): Larger Australian non-profit operating nationally and internationally across educational research, assessment, and professional development. Overlaps with CSHE in education research and professional learning, but with a far broader scope spanning K-12 through higher education.
• HERDSA (Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia): Regional academic society dedicated to higher education research and development across Australasia, with publications and a professional community. Shares CSHE's research-and-development remit for the higher education sector but operates as a member society rather than a university unit.
• Advance HE (formerly Higher Education Academy, UK): UK-based membership organisation supporting teaching quality, professional standards, and CPD for higher education staff. Comparable to CSHE in delivering professional development for university teachers, but as a broader, membership-funded body rather than an internal research centre.

Others

• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA, UK): UK body that defines, assures, and advises on higher education quality and standards. Related to CSHE's framework and policy work but sits in regulatory/standards advisory space rather than university-based R&D.

Direct peers

• Center for Studies in Higher Education (UC Berkeley): University-based research centre established within a flagship public university to study higher education policy, practice, and teaching. Highly comparable to CSHE in mission, structure, and the production of scholarship and resources aimed at improving university teaching and learning.
• Centre for Higher Education Research and Information (Lancaster University): UK university research centre focused on higher education research and policy, with a track record of evidence-based studies on teaching, policy, and student outcomes. Comparable to CSHE as a long-established academic unit producing research and policy influence.
• Center for Teaching Innovation, Cornell University: University teaching centre that produces evidence-based teaching resources, runs faculty development programs, and conducts SoTL research. Comparable as a practitioner-facing research-and-resource hub for higher education teaching professionals.
• Centre for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT), University of Michigan: Internal university centre that conducts research on teaching and learning and supports faculty with assessment, instructional design, and professional development resources. Closely mirrors CSHE's combination of research, frameworks, and practitioner-facing guides for university staff.

Emerging players

• Centre for Teaching and Learning, University of Melbourne (with HE context): Internal university unit supporting teaching practice at the same institution (University of Melbourne). Adjacent to CSHE's PD and frameworks work, providing teaching support that overlaps with CSHE's practitioner-facing resources and workshops.
• National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD): Independent organisation providing professional development, coaching, and resources for faculty at universities and colleges. Comparable to CSHE in the niche of ongoing professional learning for university teachers, though operating outside a research-centre model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/melbourne-cshe
• Instagraminstagram.com/melbcshe/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE)