Course Evaluation

Why do we evaluate teaching at MHH?

Student evaluations are a well‑established tool for continuously reflecting on and improving the quality of teaching and the learning environment. Their primary purpose is to gather open and constructive feedback that enables instructors and the institution to respond to students’ needs and further develop teaching methods. Ideally, evaluations foster a dynamic dialogue between teachers and learners, one that not only helps refine course content but also sends an important signal across the university: we take feedback seriously and strive for excellence together.

How do students, instructors and the MHH benefit from evaluations?

For students, course evaluations offer an opportunity to actively shape their learning experience. Honest feedback helps ensure that courses become more focused, comprehensible, and inclusive. Instructors, in turn, gain insights into the effectiveness of their teaching methods and the clarity of their materials. This feedback forms the basis for adjusting didactic approaches, trying out new ideas, and further developing one’s teaching style. Ultimately, everyone benefits: engaging teaching motivates students, supports academic success, and strengthens trust in the quality of our institution.

What responsibility do students and instructors have?

The effectiveness of evaluations depends on the commitment of everyone involved. Students are encouraged to provide regular and thoughtful feedback, knowing that it benefits not only themselves but also their peers, instructors, and the entire university. Constructive feedback is respectful, specific, and highlights areas for improvement. In this way, a culture of shared learning and growth emerges in which every voice matters.

Instructors, likewise, are expected to review the feedback carefully, identify areas for improvement, and address them. Transparent communication with students can help strengthen motivation, trust, and confidence in the evaluation process itself.

How is course evaluation organized at MHH?

Course Evaluation  (LVE) for all degree programs at MHH are centrally coordinated by the Dean’s Office – Evaluation & Capacity. All evaluations are conducted online using the software evasys. Toward the end of each module, students receive an email with a link to the questionnaire.

Course evaluations at MHH follow these principles:

• Students should have the opportunity to evaluate every module they attend.
• Participation is voluntary and anonymous.
• Whenever possible, the evaluation should include questions related to the module examination.
• We aim to enable differentiated feedback and therefore design questionnaires that meet psychometric standards.
• Respectful communication: the Evaluation Office reserves the right to remove personal attacks or insults from free‑text responses.

After each evaluation cycle, the Evaluation Office prepares standardized reports that are made available to the instructors of the respective modules. Reports without free‑text comments are also accessible to all students and instructors via the ILIAS learning management system. Study committees and program coordinators receive additional, in‑depth insights to address challenges directly.

The Evaluation Regulations can be found here.

Differentiated evaluation and short feedback option

We recognize that many students may not be able or willing to provide detailed feedback for every module. For this reason, we offer a short evaluation option, which includes only a few questions in addition to an overall rating and can be completed in about one minute. This helps encourage participation from students who might otherwise not provide feedback at all.

Recognizing excellent teaching

High‑quality teaching at MHH is acknowledged through performance‑based funding (LOM‑Lehre). Student feedback plays a significant role in this process. In Medicine and Dentistry, the overall evaluation score is an important criterion; in some Bologna programs, separate surveys are conducted for module‑specific teaching awards. LOM‑Lehre supports outstanding teaching and dedicated instructors. Recipients may use the funds for innovative projects, the development of teaching materials, or further didactic training.

Facts and figures

Across the eight current degree programs at MHH, the Evaluation Office conducts more than 300 course evaluations each year (with numbers increasing) and prepares, checks, and distributes over 350 reports. Additional activities include evaluations of continuing education courses, teaching awards,the annual screening of study conditions (link coming soon), the screening of study motivation (HSM) and the graduate survey in medicine.

Evaluation results, teaching awards, funding allocations, and developments in teaching at MHH and within the individual programs are published annually in the Teaching Report, issued by the Dean of Studies for Medicine and the Bologna study programmes and prepared by the Evaluation Office.

Contact

If you have questions, comments, or feedback, you can contact the Evaluation Office at any time at: lehrevaluation@mh-hannover.de.

If you would like to contact the responsible persons for individual degree programs or specific areas directly, you can find them here.