The European Higher Education Sector Observatory (EHESO) is a user-centred data and information platform on the higher education sector in Europe. The Observatory enables the comparison, analysis, and showcasing of the sector's performance across multiple levels, actors, and themes.

Enhanced transparency. By consolidating and integrating various data sources, EHESO provides a transparent view of European higher education systems, institutional profiles and indicators on activities, organisation and outputs. This transparency aids stakeholders – including policymakers, re archers, higher education institutions, and students – in making informed decisions.

Comparative analysis. The Observatory facilitates comparative analysis across countries, institutions and disciplines. Stakeholders can benchmark performance indicators, such as teaching quality, research output, internationalisation and student satisfaction, to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

Policy formulation and monitoring. Policymakers can leverage EHESO’s comprehensive data to formulate and monitor evidence-based policies and strategies aimed at enhancing the quality, accessibility, and competitiveness of higher education across Europe. The Observatory serves as a valuable resource for monitoring trends and evaluating the effectiveness of policy interventions.

Institutional development. higher education institutions can utilise EHESO to assess their performance relative to peers and identify best practices. This self-assessment fosters continuous improvement and innovation in teaching, research and management, ultimately enhancing institutional quality and reputation.

Student empowerment. Students and prospective students benefit from access to transparent and comparative information on higher education institutions and study programmes across Europe, facilitating informed decision-making regarding programme selection, mobility opportunities and career prospects.

The Observatory aims to leverage and integrate the strengths of the EU data tools and capacities, including the European Tertiary Education Register (ETER), U-Multirank (multidimensional institutional benchmarking), Erasmus+ database, Database of External Quality Assurance Results (DEQAR), EUROSTUDENT (social dimension of higher education), EUROGRADUATE (higher education graduate outcomes), Eurydice higher education policy data, Eurostat and other relevant data sources.

As a result, institutions and governments will be able to strengthen their evidence base on key topics such as transnational mobility and cooperation, inclusion, learning outcomes, digital, green and entrepreneurial skills, technology transfer, graduate employability and students’ and labour market needs. This process will also reinforce the institutions’ role in innovation ecosystems, and transnational cooperation in the higher education sector.

The European Higher Education Sector Observatory is possible thanks to funding from Erasmus+, the European programme for education, training, youth and sport. It is an initiative by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport, and Culture. It is operated by a consortium under a service contract with the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).