Institutional research takes place in Ireland, the UK, Netherlands, and Germany and is a significant activity because decision making by institution leaders is informed by data collection; certainly teaching and learning is evidence-based rather than what academics think ‘ought to be the case’; services and facilities are changed on the basis of evidence; even (at least in theory) staff and student satisfaction is taken into account during improvement processes. However, IR is currently not recognized as a discrete activity, resulting in institutional research being done by lots of different groups, internal and external; rather than by a centralized office. Knowledge-building with senior administrators about IR, additional professional development for practitioners, and coordinated thinking will strengthen IR and decision support in the region.