DIES Web Seminar Series | University Leadership in Challenging Times

”Establishing a Quality Culture in Higher Education Institutions: Exploring innovative concepts, local realities and regional trends“

Tuesday, 18 November 2025, 02:00 – 04:15 pm (CET) / 01:00 – 03:15 pm (UTC)

The international DIES web seminar will focus on the topic of “Establishing a Quality Culture in Higher Education Institutions: Exploring innovative concepts, local realities and regional trends.” Quality assurance and quality management are central challenges in the governance of higher education institutions (HEI). Despite growing discussion of quality culture, attempting to define academic quality and its assessment in an empirically valid way is probably one of the oldest and most difficult questions in higher education and the social science debates. In this context, the importance of promoting an institution-specific quality culture has drawn increasing attention. As institutions strive to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world, their role extends far beyond traditional teaching. Universities are now pivotal in fostering competencies, preparing students for real-world challenges, raising awareness of global issues, and integrating with global labour markets (“employability”). At the same time, ensuring student satisfaction and delivering a holistic educational experience remain crucial. Thus, the multi-dimensional concept of quality culture not only expands traditional approaches to quality assurance by focusing on divergent aspects of organizational sociology and psychology, such as shared attitudes and commitment to quality, but also highlighting its importance as a dynamic and collective mindset that drives continuous improvement, fosters innovation, and ensures long-term institutional excellence.

Together with university leaders from different world regions we are going to focus on the intersection of classical institutional quality assurance of teaching and learning, higher education management, and policy, addressing both local challenges and regional trends. In times of rapid advancements and societal transformation, institutionalising an effective quality culture is more important than ever. This webinar will explore how institutional and organisational arrangements, measures and procedures can bridge the core missions and processes of higher education, research and transfer to promote rather than hinder the quality of university’s outcomes. Academic leadership is responsible for the design and maintenance of relationships between institutions and external stakeholders, and within higher education and research, which is closely linked to quality development. The debate on concepts of quality in higher education and the surrounding discussion of quality assurance and quality development can bridge the gap between researchers, policymakers, and the public, ensuring that institutions remain accessible, impactful, and inclusive. It is intended to catalyse an exchange of experience and to identify similarities and possibly first examples of good practice.

Key topics include:

The role of institutions and its leadership in conceptionalising quality in higher education and shaping internal and external quality processes
Key performance indicators for effective and successful management strategies for quality enhancement, including content-related “soft” institutional concepts of quality requirements (diversity, inclusion, sustainability etc.)
Regional experiences in advancing quality assurance and enhancement
Trends and good practices in embedding a culture of quality in higher education

This interactive session is designed to present inputs from expert speakers, foster dialogue, share good practices from different world regions, and inspire innovative approaches to institutional quality culture across diverse contexts.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) organise this series of web seminars in the framework of their joint DIES Programme and under the series title “University Leadership in Challenging Times”.

DIES Web Seminar

Please join the DIES Web Seminar by clicking on the button,
starting on 18 November 2025, 02:00 – 04:15 pm (CET),
01:00 – 03:15 pm (UTC)

Welcome & Introduction:

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Prof Dr Ulrich Bartosch

President of University of Passau and Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education at German Rectors’ Conference (HRK)

Prof Dr Ulrich Bartosch is President of the University of Passau and Vice-President of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) for Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education. He has held the presidency of the University of Passau since 2020 and became HRK Vice-President in December 2023. A professor of Education at the Faculty of Social Work at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt since 2000, he has long been engaged in higher education and science policy.

Prof Bartosch previously served as Chair of the Federation of German Scientists (VDW) from 2009 to 2015 and later as Chair of its Scientific Advisory Board until 2022. From 2007 to 2013, he was a member of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) team of Bologna experts on behalf of the European Commission. Earlier in his career, he chaired the German Council of University Departments of Social Work (2006–2012) and held teaching and leadership roles at the University of Passau, VHS Hagen, and BBW St. Franziskus in Abensberg.

He studied Education and Political Science, earning his Master’s degree in Political Science in 1987 and his Doctorate in 1994.

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Stefan Hase-Bergen

Head of Division, Development Cooperation and Transregional Programmes, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

Stefan Hase-Bergen has been Head of the Division „Development Cooperation and Transregional Programmes“ at the DAAD in Bonn since November 2024. He previously lived in Hanoi with his wife and three daughters from 2017 to 2023 where he headed the regional DAAD office. He has worked for the DAAD in various positions since 2001, including as Head of the DAAD Regional Office in Beijing (2007 – 2012) and as Head of Marketing at the DAAD Head Office in Bonn from 2012 to 2017 and from 2023 to 2024. Stefan studied Sinology, German Studies, German as a Foreign Language and International Marketing in Trier, Shanghai, Bochum and Reutlingen. Stefan has many years of experience as a manager in the field of university internationalisation. In various management positions, including as head of two DAAD field offices, he has also gained extensive experience in development cooperation with countries particularly in Asia. Most recently, he has been increasingly involved in EU projects. Among other things, he is responsible for the “EU Mobility Programme for Myanmar” as Senior Responsible Officer.

Keynote:

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PROF Patrício V. Langa, PhD

Chair of the African Consortium of Higher Education Researchers (ACHER, Ghana) and Professor of Sociology, Higher Education, Science, Innovation, and Policy Studies at Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique

Patrício V. Langa is a sociologist and a professor of comparative higher education, science policy and innovation studies at Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique. He is a research affiliate with the Forum Internationale Wissenschaft and previously held a DAAD research fellowship at the University of Bonn in Germany. Additionally, he served as a Senior Research Fellow at the College for Social Sciences and Humanities of the Ruhr University Alliance in Essen, Germany. Langa is a Research Fellow at the Ali Mazrui Centre for Higher Education Studies at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He also holds the position of Distinguished Visiting Research Professor at the UNESCO Category II Institute of Education, Policy and Administration (IEPA) at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

Furthermore, he is an Adjunct Professor in the Sociology of Communication at the Communication Sciences Department of the Autonomous University of Lisbon in Portugal and a Research Affiliate at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research & Outreach at the Pedagogic University in Maputo, Mozambique. Over the past twenty years, Langa has worked in higher education research, teaching, science policy analysis, consultancy, and university administration across four continents. As an international education leader, he has established two International Doctoral Programs in Comparative Higher Education, Policy, and Innovation Studies, as well as two master’s programs in International Higher Education and Development. Langa is the founding Director of the Centre for Higher Education Studies and Development in Mozambique and the African Consortium for Higher Education Researchers in Ghana. Additionally, he is a co-founder and the Chair of the Board of African Minds Publishing.

Moderation:

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Prof Dr Philipp Pohlenz

Chair of Higher Education and Academic Development at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

Philipp Pohlenz holds the chair of research into higher education and academic development at the Faculty of Humanities of the Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany since 2014. After graduating in sociology in 2001 at Potsdam University (Germany) he completed his doctoral studies in the field of research into higher education with a dissertation on validity concerns of student survey data (2007). Ever since he has been a researcher and practitioner in the field of teaching quality and professionalisation. His research focusses on university education and management, as well as on universities as organisations and institutions. Moreover, he is involved in capacity building projects in the university management sector in various countries in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Africa.

Panel Speaker Dialogue Round:

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Prof Dra Mónica Bonifaz Chirinos

Vicerrector of University Administration at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP)

Mónica Bonifaz is the Vicerrector of University Administration at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP). She is a Full Professor in the Academic Department of Management Sciences and member of the Research Group in Higher Education (GRIES) of the PUCP. Mónica has been Dean of the Undergraduate School of Management and Head of the Academic Department of Management Sciences. She also has been member of board of directors and has held managerial positions in the public sector, as well as in multinational companies.
She holds a Doctorate in Strategic Management from the Consortium of Universities of Perú, with a minor in innovation in higher education, and a Master of Science in Information Management from the University of Sheffield in England. She works on topics related to university management, government of the academic career and development of research capabilities, particularly in private universities.
She has been a fellow of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdients – DAAD of Germany, the British Council and Erasmus, as well as the Columbus Association to participate in projects on teaching, internationalization and promotion of research in university higher education.

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Vreeti Reetoo

Quality Assurance Manager at African Leadership University (ALU), Rwanda, African Leadership College (ALC), Mauritius and African Leadership College of Higher Education (ALCHE), Mauritius

Vreeti Reetoo is a higher education professional with extensive experience in quality assurance, academic administration, and institutional development. Since May 2024, she has served as Quality Assurance Manager at the African Leadership University (ALU) in Rwanda and the African Leadership College (ALC/ALCHE) in Mauritius, leading the establishment of a new private higher education institution in Mauritius and coordinating its programme accreditations. She is currently managing a comprehensive institutional self-study for NECHE candidacy, training and coordinating over 70 staff members.

Previously, Vreeti held roles as Registrar and Quality Assurance Manager, Quality Associate Lead, Associate Registrar, and Adjunct Faculty Member, where she oversaw programme approvals, policy development, internal and external quality assurance, student engagement systems, and course facilitation. She also has experience in monitoring and evaluation and productivity consultancy in Mauritius.

Vreeti holds an MPhil in Economics from the University of Cambridge and a BSc (Honours) in Economics, First Class, from the University of Warwick, with research in behavioral economics, sustainability, and decision-making. She is proficient in English, French, and Kreol Morisien, with working knowledge of Hindi, and skilled in G Suite, Microsoft Office, and AI EdTech tools.

Her expertise spans strategic planning, programme development, and institutional governance. Outside work, she enjoys yoga, classical music, education, behavioral economics, and leadership development.

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LY THIEN TRANG, PhD

Vice President at Ho Chi Minh City University Technology (HUTECH) and Director of Accreditation and Quality Assurance at Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance

Dr Ly Thien Trang is Vice President of HCMC University of Technology (HUTECH), Vietnam. She is in charge of Internationalisation, International Accreditation and International Projects. She is also the Director of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (Vice President – rank) at HCMC University of Economics and Finance (UEF). Both Universities are in the same HUTECH Education System – one of Vietnam’s leading private education systems. She has over 25 years of experience in higher education management, especially in internationalization, quality assurance, international projects and professional development programmes. She has had opportunities to expose herself in international higher education across many countries thourgh a wide range of professional development programmes, educational visits and international conferences. She has joined more than 20 interntaional projects by ADB, USAID, British Council, etc. as a member and/ or as a project leader. She has been certified by USAID as an Instructional expert and coaching expert and has provided some training courses in Project-Based Learning, new instructional approaches, Outcome – Based Education and coaching for instructors in some institutions in Vietnam and the Lower Mekong Countries. She obtained her BA in German Language, BA in English Language, MA in TESOL, MBA, and PhD. in Contrastive Linguistics.

Hosts:

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Dr Peter A. Zervakis

Head of Section „Higher Education in Germany and Europe“ at German Rectors' Conference (HRK)

Peter Zervakis studied Modern History and Political Sciences at the University of Hamburg (1984-1989). After longer study and research stays at the European Commission in Brussels and at the German Historical Institute in Washington, D.C., he completed his doctorate at the University of Hamburg in 1992. From 1993-1998 he worked as a post-doctoral researcher in the project Southeast Europe Handbook VIII: Cyprus, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). From 1999-2004 he was a fellow at the University of Bonn‘s Centre for European Research. In 2004, he was appointed Director of the European Projects in the Bertelsmann Foundation. In 2006, he became Head of the Bologna Projects of the HRK. From 2010-2014, he directed the new project nexus -“Concepts and good practice for studying and teaching”. From 2014-2020 he coordinated the contents of the follow-up project nexus II. From 2020 until July 2022, he was the Deputy Head of the new HRK’s MODUS project. Numerous presentations at conferences and seminars as well as publications, inter alia, on the Bologna Process and inner-university reform projects in teaching and studies.

Tobias Wolf

Head of Section, Development Cooperation – Higher Education Management (P32), German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

Tobias Wolf joined the DAAD 20 years ago and possesses extensive experience in the field of higher education management, university cooperation and quality assurance in higher education. He currently works as Head of Section “Development Cooperation – Partnership Programmes, Alumni Projects and Higher Education Management” at DAAD headquarters in Bonn. Tobias Wolf coordinates one of the DAAD flagship programmes in the field of higher education management “Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies” (DIES). Moreover, he is actively involved in the implementation of various EU-funded projects. Tobias Wolf holds a Magister Artium in Spanish and Latin American Studies, Literature and Sociology from Bielefeld University, Germany. He spent one year of his studies at the University of Cádiz, Spain.

Programme

"Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies" (DIES)

Universities throughout the world are operating in an increasingly dynamic environment characterised by global challenges. They face intense competition for students, highly qualified researchers and third-party funding. This holds true for developing countries too, where the demand for tertiary education has been skyrocketing over the last decades.

In light of these developments, higher education management in all its particulars is becoming more and more important in the field of international development cooperation. The programme “Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies” (DIES) has been jointly developed and coordinated by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) since 2001. DIES is strengthening capacities in higher education management, both on individual and institutional level. It offers a wide range of tailored activities training courses, dialogue events and university partnerships. – These activities not only foster the competences of academic staff, but also contribute to the enhancement of institutional management at universities in developing countries. DIES focuses on three key partner regions: Africa, Spanish-speaking Latin America and Southeast Asia. Funding is provided by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

The DAAD is a joint organisation of German institutions of higher education and their student bodies, devoted to internationalising the academic and scientific research system. With its broad range of scholarship programmes, the DAAD enables students, researchers and university lecturers to take advantage of the best study and research opportunities. Since it was founded in 1925, more than 2.5 million scholars in Germany and abroad have received DAAD funding. Apart from the scholar ship programmes the DAAD supports the internationalisation of German universities, promotes German studies and the German language abroad, advises decision makers on matters of cultural, education and development policy and assists developing countries in establishing effective universities by means of special programmes.

German Rectors’ Conference (HRK)

The German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) is the association of state and state-recognised universities in Germany. The HRK currently has 269 member institutions, in which over 90 per cent of all students in Germany are enrolled. The HRK functions as the voice of the universities in dialogue with politicians and the public and as the central forum for opinion-forming in the higher education sector. The HRK cooperates with universities and corresponding organisations all over the world. Its aim is to represent the interest of German universities at an international level and to support German universities in their internationalisation process.

Prof Dr Marcelo Knobel

Former Rector, University of Campinas (Unicamp), Member of the governing council of the Magna Charta Observatory, Brazil

Prof Dr Marcelo Knobel was the 12th Rector of the University of Campinas (Unicamp), in Brazil, where he is a Full Professor of Physics. He held other leadership roles, including: Executive Director of the Unicamp Exploratory Science Museum, Vice-Rector for Undergraduate Programs, Vice-President of the Brazilian Physics Society and Executive Director of the Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano). He has already published more than 300 scientific papers, in addition to numerous opinion pieces in both national and international newspapers and magazines. Prof Knobel is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials (Elsevier). He is an Eisenhower Fellow (2007), Fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation (2009) and Lemann Fellow (2015). He is Member of the Governing Council of the Magna Charta Observatory.

Prof Dr Eva Asselmann

Professor, Faculty of Health, Health and Medical University, Germany

Prof Dr Eva Asselmann is a Professor of Differential and Personality Psychology in Potsdam. Her research focuses on personality development, health promotion, and prevention. In particular, she examines how personality and mental health change before and after becoming a leader. Her research revealed that emergent leaders experience substantial changes in personality traits (e.g., extraversion and risk affinity) as well as both favorable and unfavorable changes in subjective well-being. Moreover she develops targeted trainings and has many years of practical experience in consulting and coaching for individuals and larger organizations. She is certified in Systemic Coaching, Change Management, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. In 2022, she published her popular science book “What We Grow From” to disseminate her latest research findings on personality development around major life events.