Efficiency Of Higher Education System Research Articles

Ranking-based second stage in data envelopment analysis: An application to research efficiency in higher education

An alternative approach for the panel second stage of data envelopment analysis (DEA) is presented in this paper. Instead of efficiency scores, we propose to model rankings in the second stage using a dynamic ranking model in the score-driven framework. We argue that this approach is suitable to complement traditional panel regression as a robustness check. To demonstrate the proposed approach, we determine research efficiency of higher education systems at country level by examining scientific publications and analyze its relation to good governance. The proposed approach confirms positive relation to the Voice and Accountability indicator, as found by the standard panel linear regression, while suggesting caution regarding the Government Effectiveness indicator.

Internal efficiency of Higher education system in armed conflict-affected countries-Yemen case

Yemen has witnessed decades of political unrest and the current armed conflict has significantly impacted human development. The economic activity has been severely disrupted which in turn affected the delivery of public services including the financing and operation of the higher education system (HE), where efficiency was negatively impacted.The purpose of this research is to investigate the extent of which the internal efficiency of the Yemen HE has been affected. This will be achieved through analysing the main three domains of teaching and learning activities as well as the impacts of the adopted policies by HE management. Structured interviews with standardized closed-ended and open-ended questions were conducted online with 51 academics who have been purposely selected. Despite the devastating effects of the armed conflict, the HE has continued to perform its duties, providing space for learning and contributing effectively in social cohesion. Nonetheless, the education process has been impacted quantitatively and qualitatively.Yemen has been deprived of its well-qualified human capital, and the brain-drain is still ongoing. The continuity of conflict will yield a generation who is either uneducated or poorly educated, and this will in turn continue feeding the violence and jeopardizing Yemen’s future.This paper represents a first attempt to study the effects of Yemen’s armed conflict on HE. Future research should shed light on tracing students who abandoned education as well as the level of knowledge, skills and competencies of those lately graduated. The multi-dimensional effects of brain-drain are equally important.

Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Higher Education Systems Based on the Knowledge-Management Approach

Abstract The complexity of phenomena in modern society requires rich knowledge and practical abilities. Also, the speed at which information circulates in immense volume inhibits the ability of the interpreter to interpret it in a timely manner. Contemporary society is characterized by dynamism, by continuous renewal. It can only be known by personal, variable, and largely subjective, symbolic interpretations. The transition from knowledge as an ensemble of knowledge, information, data, to knowledge as a set of competencies determines a shift of emphasis in education, from ex-cathedra exposure to learning through experience/practice, transmission and memorization information (information), skills training, and skills. There is a need for the formation of individuals capable of analyzing concrete, new situations, and responding appropriately using logical thinking, problem solving, critical thinking, and divergent thinking skills.

Efficiency analysis of non-homogeneous parallel sub-unit systems for the performance measurement of higher education

Conventional Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models focus only on initial inputs and final outputs for efficiency evaluation. Thus, these models treat the production process as a ‘black box’, i.e., they do not take into account how exactly inputs are related to outputs. Various models that came later take care of internal processes of DMU. The existing models of internal processes for parallel sub-units consist of three stages: the first stage calculates the relative weights of sub-units, the second stage calculates the efficiencies of sub-units, and in the third stage efficiencies of sub-units are aggregated as the efficiency of DMU. It is observed that when existing models of internal processes are applied to non-homogeneous parallel sub-units, in the first stage, the weight assigned to the maximum efficient sub-unit is one and to other sub-units is zero. This implies that the efficiency of a DMU is equal to the maximum of efficiencies of its sub-units indicating that the efficiency of a DMU is not sensitive to the efficiencies of sub-units other than the sub-unit with maximum efficiency. This paper proposes a single stage DEA approach where the efficiency of a DMU and its sub-units can be measured simultaneously. The advantage of the proposed approach is that the efficiency of a DMU is sensitive to the changes in the efficiency of its sub-units, and weights of sub-units can be assigned a priori by the decision maker. The development of the proposed approach is inspired from the growing interest in evaluating efficiency of higher education system in India. In the proposed application, states are considered as DMUs and universities, colleges and stand-alone institutions are taken as three non-homogeneous parallel sub-units of DMUs.

The Efficiency of Regional Higher Education Systems and Competition in Russia

This paper explores the correlation between the degree of competition between higher education institutions (HEIs) and the efficiency of regional higher education systems using evidence from the Russian Federation. The choice of the regional system of higher education as a unit of analysis is explained by the features of the Russian system of higher education, especially by “closeness” in the borders of regions. We propose a special approach for the evaluation of the regional higher education system efficiency from the public administration perspective. Using data envelopment analysis (DEA), we investigate the efficiency of higher education systems in the regions and compare the results with the extent of higher education competition within them. The results indicate that higher efficiency scores and higher competition between HEIs in Russian regions are positively correlated. Moreover, by introducing socio-economic context status as a grouping parameter, we are able to specify the conditions of this relationship. The study explores that correlation between efficiency and competition is stronger in developing and low-performing regions. At the same time, higher education systems in developed regions consist of different HEIs, which create a competitive environment, although their efficiency level varies considerably. Taking into account all limitations of the study, these results contain several important issues for policy-making and higher education research discussions. They challenge the universalistic assumptions for the direction of higher education development.

Does Competition Matter? The Efficiency of Regional Higher Education Systems and Competition: The Case of Russia

This paper explores the relationship between the degree of competition between higher education institutions (HEIs) and the efficiency of regional higher education systems using evidence from the Russian Federation. The choice of the regional system of higher education as a unit of analysis is explained by features of the Russian system of higher education, especially by “closeness” in the borders of regions. Using data envelopment analysis (DEA) we investigate the efficiency of higher education systems in the regions and compare the results with the extent of higher education competition within them. The analysis finds that within the overall sample the correlation is positive, but not striking. However the extent of competition correlates with the efficiency of regional sets of HEIs more in less socio-economically developed regions.

Using DEA to evaluate efficiency of higher education

The aim of the higher education reform process both in Hungary and in the European countries is establishing a competitive, qualitative higher education with efficiently operating institutions. The question of efficiency needs increased attention not only because of the decline of the state support but also the rapid raise of the student mass. In the educationsystemit’snot easy to measurethe output of the services.The situation is more complicated if an organisation or a sector has multiple inputs and outputs. In this case a possible method of determining efficiency is Data Envelopment Analysis. In my paper I’d like to introduce this method and use it to compare the efficiency of higher education systems. urthermore I am examining whether their efficiency is influenced by the extent of the contribution of the state and the private sector or socio-economic factors like GDP per capita and education level of parents.

Analysis of the efficiency of higher education systems

The aim of the higher education reform process both in Hungary and in the European countries is establishing a competitive, qualitative higher education. The Education Minister of our country regularly emphasizes in his statements that the quantitative changes of he past 15 years are completed, from now the emphasis must be on quality :„a degree in itself is not sufficient, the actual knowledge behind is necessary”. To achievethis aim, the government carried out several changes in the field of higher education in the past years, one of them was implementing a budget support system in accordance with the performance of the institutions. The objective of the three year long support agreement between the state and the higher education institutions is considering quality parameters and outputs beside and instead of normative (input-based) support. The other occurent and debated issue is the introduction of tuition fees. Although this plan was rejected by the national referendum on 9th March, 2008, some weeks ago an amendment bill was passed, which would mean bringing tuition fees back in the system.In my paper I am examining whether the efficiency of higher education systems are influenced by the extent of the contribution of the state and the private sector to their expenses. Furthermore I’d like to find the answer to the following question: Does it matter what principles and mechanisms play role by the distribution of the state support between the institutions of higher education.