Abstract
This paper presents the results of an efficiency study of Colombian public universities in 2012, conducted using the methodology of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the models CCR, BCC and SBM under output orientation. The main objective is to determine technical, pure technical, scale and mix efficiencies using data acquired from the Ministry of National Education. An analysis of the results shows the extent to which outputs of inefficient Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) could be improved and the possible cause of this inefficiency. The universities were also ranked using a Pareto efficient cross-efficiency model and a study was made of changes to overall productivity between 2011 and 2012. The results showed Tolima, Caldas and UNAD to be the best-performing universities, with Universidad del Pacífico as the worst performer. Malmquist index was applied to analyze the change in productivity from 2011 to 2012. The Universidad de La Guajira showed great improvement in technical efficiency between 2011 and 2012.
Highlights
Introducing criteria of rationality and economic efficiency in public educational institution management has become a priority with the aim of improving processes by identifying the variables with greatest impact
The results of this research paper are based on the efficiency scores of Colombian public higher education institution (HEIs) using CCR-O, BCC-O and Slacks Based Measure (SBM)-O-C models, as well as the extent to which output variables should be improved in order for an inefficient Decision-Making Units (DMUs) to become efficient
The results show that 14 HEIs reveal some type of inefficiency; 18 of 32 HEIs (56.25%) are efficient according to CCR, BCC and SBM models, thereby showing technical, scale, mix and administrative efficiency (ρ0∗ = 1), which is to say they do not exhibit any inefficiency
Summary
Introducing criteria of rationality and economic efficiency in public educational institution management has become a priority with the aim of improving processes by identifying the variables with greatest impact. Many governments and organizations involved in higher education are implementing strategies to improve the efficiency of universities and ensure that they are properly run [1,2,3,4]. The allocation of public resources and their efficient use are two closely related factors compelling researchers in the field of education economics to focus on the efficiency evaluation of educational institutions at all levels and, in this study, at the university level. The OECD has recently claimed that, in Columbia, “public resources are not allocated in a way that promotes efficiency, equity, or the established goals” of the higher education sector [6]. The Columbian government has created a national system of tertiary education (SNET) and a national quality system (SISNACET)—among other reforms—that presumably aim to secure improvements
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