The status quo of planning and controlling in higher education teaching-skills development

Teaching-skills development is an essential element in promoting quality in higher education. Accordingly, university centres that provide such training and consultation services (“Hochschuldidaktische Arbeitsstellen”, HDAs) need to use their available resources in the most targeted manner possible. However, little is known about how HDAs plan and control their services. Thus, building on a comprehensive theoretical framework of educational control, a study involving 37 HDAs was conducted to analyse planning and controlling activities before, during, and after service delivery. The findings reveal both focus areas and relatively neglected areas, and can therefore stimulate reflection on current practice.