- Phase 1: starting phase (from January to May of the first year) The higher education institutions decide whether to participate in the KOAB-graduate survey. (Kick-off workshop, national conference)

- Phase 2: Preparation of the survey (June to September of the first year) The already existing, standardized set of core and additional questions will be evaluated and modified or extended, if necessary. Together with the higher education institutions individualized questionnaires will be developed and implemented as online and, if necessary, as paper questionnaires. Meanwhile, in the higher education institutions, address databases will be compiled and existing addresses will be validated and updated. Shortly before the start of the graduate surveys, the experience with the preparation of the survey will be exchanged and it will be discussed in particular, how a high response rate can be achieved. (Questionnaire development workshop, Fieldphase preparation workshop, optional SPSS training for beginners)

- Phase 3: Conduction of the survey (October first year to February second year) Each higher education institution conducts the survey independently. The online surveys are usually programmed and administered by INCHER-Kassel. Through continuous address updates and at least three reminders, a response rate of at least 50% should be achieved.

- Phase 4: Data preparation and feedback (December first year to April second year) In late December the higher education institutions will receive interim results of their online surveys. In March / April, the data will have the final control and correction. In spring, the higher education institutions will receive the table reports of their survey results as well as a CD with the data of their graduate survey. (Data editing, coding and correction workshop)

- Phase 5: In-depth analysis and reports (May to December of the second year) Table analyses of the complete date set will be compiled by degree, type of higher education institution, field of study and gender. At the same time workshops on data interpretation and reporting will take place. (Advanced methods of data analysis)

Additionally, ad hoc workshops about special topics like development of Drop-Out surveys; student surveys; new modules of questions are offered. Follow-up surveys 5 years after graduation complement since 2010 the options offered in the cooperation project.

Independent of the approach the question of effectiveness of the surveys is the utilization of the research results. Graduate surveys on institutional level have a practical research orientation and a wide potential to contribute to the quality development of study programs, student services and strategic planning of the higher education institution. If the results of the graduate surveys are not recognized, reports are not read and results are not discussed; graduate surveys cannot reach their full potential.

## Literature:

Camelli, Andrea et. al. (2011): Mixed Outcomes of the Bologna Process in Italy. Schomburg, Harald/Teichler, Ulrich (eds.): Employability and Mobility of Bachelor Graduates in Europe. Key Results of the Bologna Process. Sense Publishers, Rotterdam, S. 143-171.

n.N. (2005): The Good Universities Guide. Hobsons Australia, Melbourne (Australien).

Description of the Cooperation Project (KOAB) are taken from the following URL: http://koab.uni-kassel.de/en/koab.html

n.N. (2005): The Good Universities Guide. Hobsons Australia, Melbourne (Australien).

ROA (2005): http://www.roa.unimaas.nl/sis/WOMonitor/oud_WOalgemeen_engels.htm.