The project examines the role of non-state (private) business schools in Germany. The focus is on the positioning of private business schools in the national and international environment and in competition with public universities.  The aim of the project is therefore to examine in detail private business schools in the context of the German higher education landscape and to answer key research questions on the following three topics:

1. What types of private business schools are present in the German higher education landscape and what are their distinguishing characteristics? How has the presence, positioning and success of private business schools developed over time?
   
   
2. What kind of networks and cooperation exists between private business schools and the public higher education sector as well as between private business schools and other organizations? How are private business schools networked or in competition with each other? What are the ownership linkages and how are networks, cooperation, and linkages related to success in reputational and economic competition? 
   
   
3. What strategies do private business schools pursue in the competition for reputation and profitability? What role do their research and teaching resources play in this?  To what extent do the study programs offered by state universities and the competitive positioning of private business schools influence each other?