Public Universities In Spain Research Articles

The Inadequate Information Model of Spanish Universities: The Relevance of Intellectual Capital Disclosure

The main aim of this study is to demonstrate how important it is for Spanish public universities to provide information on their intellectual capital in order to satisfy their users' information needs. To this end, we analysed the opinion held by the members of the Social Councils regarding the need for Spanish public universities to publish information on their intellectual capital when presenting economic, financial and budgetary information. The results of this research show extensive criticism of the current accounting information model used by public universities in Spain. They also demonstrate a widespread interest in universities including information on their intellectual capital with a view to increasing the relevance of the current university financial statements.

Es la universidad pública española socialmente responsable

Currently universities cannot leave out principles of social responsibility in their actions. The theoretical part of the article explores the background of social responsibility of universities (RSU) until current times. The empirical part analyzes if public universities in Spain develop this type of initiatives and how they carry them out. 48 universities were analyzed and the information was obtained by means of a comprehensive analysis of the web pages of the institutions. The results lead to the affirmation that public universities in Spain are channeling the principles of RSU, which are included in most of the cases in the objectives and strategic plans of theses universities.

Introducing management models in service organisations in developed and developing countries

The aim of this paper is to examine the application of the European Foundation for Quality Management model for self-assessment as a means to introduce changes in management in services in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Spain and in Jordan. This paper uses the case study methodology on eight administrative services in a public university in Spain and seven university services in two Jordanian universities, a public and a private institution. The findings show the steps that an administrative service may follow in order to apply the questionnaire approach successfully in a reform process, the difficulties, the benefits and the success factors in both countries and the consequences of the changes introduced. The study provides lessons for decision makers and managers from other universities in developed and developing countries, who wish to introduce the practice of quality management by creative means. This paper extends knowledge on self-assessment (steps, difficulties, benefits, success factors and changes in management) to services in HEIs.

The e-administration at public universities in Spain

The study analyses the level of penetration of electronic administration in the Spanish university system through a heuristic evaluation of university electronic sites. These sites are a key element in the process of disseminating information and the provision of services in public administration. The study highlights that universities have implemented e-administration to a signifi cant degree although they have yet to reach optimal levels. The study also analyses the principal characteristics differentiating higher education institutions from other public administrations and what this implies for e-administration.

Preparing Jordanian university services to implement a quality self-assessment methodology

The purpose of this article is to analyse the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) self-assessment model in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Spain and in Jordan, and show what Jordanian HEIs have learnt from the Spanish experience. The article uses a case study methodology on eight administrative services provided by a public university in Spain and seven services provided by one public and one private university in Jordan. The findings show the steps that an administrative service may follow in order to apply the questionnaire approach to self-assessment in a successful manner. It provides lessons for decision-makers and managers from other public services in HEIs in Jordan, and other developing countries, who wish to perform an exercise in self-assessment using a questionnaire approach. Points for practitioners The article describes a practical methodology for assessing quality in public services in HEIs. It identifies the steps to implement this methodology in public services in a developed country (Spain) and in a developing country (Jordan) and the lessons learnt by the developing country. The article shows that the concept of quality awards can be adapted to different contexts, although there is a need for modification and careful implementation. The study provides lessons for decision-makers and managers from other public services in HEIs in Jordan, and other developing countries, who wish to perform an exercise in self-assessment using a questionnaire approach.

Self‐assessment processes: the importance of follow‐up for success

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review the literature on self‐assessment processes and to identify the difficulties, benefits and success factors of the European Foundation for Quality Management self‐assessment model, analysing the importance of follow‐up.Design/methodology/approachFirst, the paper carries out a literature review on self‐assessment, and then it uses the case study methodology based on ten services provided by a public university in Spain to identify difficulties, benefits and success factors of self‐assessment.FindingsThe findings show, first, what the literature suggests on self‐assessment in general and for higher education, and second, the difficulties, benefits and success factors and the importance of follow‐up for successful self‐assessment.Originality/valueThe paper provides a literature review on self‐assessment and lessons for managers from other universities, or other public sector organisations, who wish to know the difficulties, benefits and success factors, and the characteristics of follow‐up.

Student Opinion of the Information Policies of Four Spanish Universities with Regard to Erasmus and Other International Programmes

The London Communique of the Conference of Ministers responsible for Higher Education in the countries participating in the Bologna Process (2007) emphasized as priorities for 2009 the “action taken at national level to promote the mobility of students and staff, including measures for future evaluation”. Certain responsibilities are incumbent upon the various member states while others fall to the universities themselves. The present study explores student perceptions of the policies and programmes to encourage this mobility in four public universities in Spain, representative in their variety, size, and level of student mobility. The aim of the study was to determine how students view the usefulness and the importance of the information and the mobility programmes offered by their universities, as well as the value of the various sources and contents of such information. The results are based on a survey administered to 2427 students who had already made the decision to go abroad the following academic ...

How to raise commitment in public university lecturers

The purpose of this article is to qualify the hypothesis that states that the presence of committed workers contributes to organizational success. So, it is necessary to clarify first of all what type of commitment and what kind of success is meant. The article then examines which variables the organization needs to act upon in order to influence it. A survey questionnaire was developed and distributed to academic staff at a public university in Spain. Data were analyzed using two ordered logit models, one for each type of commitment analyzed: affective commitment and continuance commitment. Analysis of the data shows that personal variables have a positive impact on affective commitment, and, while job-related characteristics do not appear to be significant, group variables such as working atmosphere have a positive impact. With respect to continuance commitment, age proved to be negatively significant and possession of a doctorate has a positive influence. The variables used to capture available opportunities to leave the organization are negatively significant.Points for practitionersThe results that emerge can help educational managers to understand the predictors of the different types of commitment and design effective human resource policies. The empirical application is carried out in an organization within the services sector, specifically, a public university in Spain. A further contribution is the incorporation of variables from all categories or groups of antecedents, which permits a thorough diagnosis.

An Analysis of Student Satisfaction: Full-Time vs. Part-Time Students

This paper examines how full-time or part-time status affects students’ level of satisfaction with their degree programs. For our analysis, we obtained data from a survey of graduate students. The survey was conducted at a public university in Spain from 2001 to 2004. The decision to undertake paid employment while studying emerges as one of the key determinants of student satisfaction. In particular, our findings indicate that students who hold a part-time job while studying are more likely to express less satisfaction with their college experience.