The „Excellent Education Award“ is given to those who at least meet or exceed the underlying threshold value. The degree of target attainment is calculated on the basis of previously established reference values. The final overall rating follows a compensatory model, i.e. above-average results on one factor can compensate for below-average values on another factor, provided that certain absolute values of an individual scale are not undershot. The threshold and reference values used as a basis for a possible award, as well as the underlying absolute values for each factor, are based on meta-analytical findings and result from the summary evaluation of empirical studies in the area of „excellent education“. The evaluation also reflects the given answers by students and teachers of the own institution on empirically collected comparative values. This makes it possible to objectively classify the survey results in terms of content.