Dr. Mathias Falkenstein has over 25 years of experience in the higher education industry, working with institutions around the world in designing and implementing institutional change, with particular focus on issues of sustainability and responsibility; quality management and internationalization.

Mathias is the Scientific Director of the DBA in Higher Education Leadership and Management (HELM).  The DBA – HELM is a unique programme that equips senior higher education managers with the skills, awareness, and tools to create and strengthen their academic, management and leadership capabilities needed to face the latest technological and organizational challenges in today’s competitive global higher education Industry.

Mathias is also the Director of Higher Education Development at Studyportals Analytics & Consulting, a global higher education data and strategy firm, where he is developing professional development, training, consulting and thought leadership.

Previously, Mathias Falkenstein was the Managing Director at XOLAS, a Higher Education consultancy firm based in Berlin, Germany. XOLAS is assisting global universities and business schools in designing and implementing institutional change, with particular attention to issues of sustainability and responsibility, quality management and internationalization.

Mathias worked as Director of Business School Services at the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) in Brussels, Director of International Relations at IÉSEG School of Management in Paris & Lille, and Director of the International Summer University at the Free University in Berlin. He started his career as a Program Officer at the North American headquarters of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in New York.

Mathias serves currently in different university advisory boards and is the Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Positive Impact Rating as well as the immediate past Chair of AACSB’ Responsible Management Education Board. He is also a research fellow and post-doctoral graduate at the International Centre for Higher Education Management (ICHEM) at the School of Management, University of Bath, UK.

Mathias earned his Doctor in Business Administration in Higher Education Management (with honors) from the University of Bath, UK. He also has a B.A. and MSc in Business Communications from the University of Engineering and Economics (HTW) in Berlin.