"The QS Stars rating is important because it provides an internationally recognised assessment of the quality and reputation of our institution. "
Dr Simone von Boddien, Head of International Office at SRH Fernhochschule – The Distance Learning University
Can you tell us why you started working with QS Stars? What were the challenges or obstacles you needed to overcome?
Since late 2020, the SRH Fernhochschule’s strategy has focused on attracting non-German-speaking students from overseas – an area with expected high-growth potential.
Up until last year, our university’s internationalisation primarily followed a B2B approach, working with foreign university partners. While this approach saw initial success in terms of student numbers, our international partners and agencies both consistently noted that the SRH brand and the SRH Distance Learning University lacked widespread international recognition. Distance learning also remains in its early stages in some markets.
Please summarise the QS products and services (QS Stars) you used to overcome these challenges.
We chose to work with QS Stars, participating in the Online Learning category due to the nature of our university and our programmes. The 5 Stars highlighted on our website, presentations, brochures and social media channels supports our international growth strategy, positioning us as a quality leader in distance learning around the world.
Tell us why your partnership with QS Stars has been successful.
The response to our 5 QS Star rating has been overwhelmingly positive. Foreign university partners, agents and other international stakeholders have all confirmed the importance of our cooperation with QS Stars in their efforts to promote our programmes.
If you could choose one statistic or insight that represents the success of your partnership with QS Stars, what would it be?
We earned our rating in the first quarter of 2023. As our collaboration with QS Stars is still fresh, we are still building specific statistics to quantify its success. Nevertheless, if we were to choose one statistic that represents the achievement of our partnership, it would be the number of new students who mention our recent 5 QS Star rating as a major reason for taking up their studies with us.
Would you recommend QS Stars to others and why?
The QS Stars rating is important because it provides an internationally recognised assessment of the quality and reputation of our institution. The QS Stars rating serves as a measure of an institution’s reputation and quality in the global higher education landscape. It enhances the visibility and recognition of our institution among potential students, faculty and other partners.
Prospective students often rely on rankings and ratings when choosing an institution for their higher education. The QS Stars rating helps students make informed decisions by providing an objective assessment of the institution’s performance and offerings.
The QS Stars rating can also be used as a marketing tool to promote our institution’s strengths and attract a diverse pool of talented students from around the world. It supports recruitment efforts by highlighting our institution’s academic excellence and international standing.
Overall, the QS Stars rating offers a reliable benchmark for institutions to assess their performance, improve areas of weakness, and showcase their strengths to a global audience, thus contributing to their internationalisation and growth goals.
Will you be partnering with QS in the future and, if so, what is the nature of that future partnership?
Yes, we would like to establish a long-lasting partnership with QS Stars. We are currently evaluating additional ways we can work together.