Online Survey of University Managers 

The basic population includes the following groups of German university management at public German universities (excluding art and music universities):

• vice presidents and prorectors for studies and teaching, research, and transfer,
• research managers,
• transfer managers,
• study programme managers and coordinators, as well as
• study programme directors and academic advisors.

The gross sample is based on three distribution lists with varying sampling methods due to the heterogeneity of the basic population:

Distribution List 1: 590 vice presidents and prorectors for studies and teaching, research, and transfer. Almost full manual census of all vice presidents/prorectors for studies and teaching, research, and transfer at public German universities, excluding art and music universities (as of August 2023). Net sample size: 178.

Distribution List 2: 1,347 research and transfer managers at public German universities, excluding art and music universities. Researched manually through simple random sampling at 50 % of the universities (as of July 2023). Net sample size: 556.

Distribution List 3: 1,840 study programme managers and coordinators, study programme directors, and academic advisors for study programmes at public German universities, excluding art and music universities. Simple random sampling of 12.5 % of the study programmes listed in the Higher Education Compass offered by the German Rectors’ Conference HRK as of May 2022, followed by manual research (as of June 2023). Net sample size: 557.

Note: Due to the removal of individuals listed in multiple distribution lists, the gross sample consists of 3,755 individuals who were contacted. The stated net sample sizes for the distribution lists do not account for “Others” or survey dropouts before question 3. Due to the varying sample sizes and sampling methods, a comprehensive analysis of all cases is not recommended. Cases from Distribution List 1 should be analysed separately.