Objectivity in performance ranking of higher education institutions using dynamic data envelopment analysis

Classification of industrial engineering programs in Colombia based on state tests

This article proposes an approach for the classification of industrial engineering programs offered by different higher education institutions (HEIs) in Colombia, using data envelopment analysis (DEA) and validating the results with cluster analysis. To perform this classification, data from 5318 industrial engineering students from 93 higher education institutions are used as a basis for classification based on the Saber11 and SaberPro state tests. The state tests are used to measure graduates' academic performance in the data envelopment analysis. With the efficiency results it was possible to classify higher education institutions (HEIs) into three large groups. Subsequently, this classification was validated through cluster analysis. The results show a correct classification of 77%.

Performance analysis of Indian states based on social–economic infrastructural investments using data envelopment analysis

Purpose

This study investigates the performance of Indian states based on infrastructural investment in social and economic sectors using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Most of the studies in the literature are based on how different elements of infrastructure such as transport, energy, education, healthcare system affect the economy of different countries/regions. In this study, we consider these elements under two different sub-systems, namely, social and economic infrastructure and measure the cooperative efficiency for competitive growth.

Design/methodology/approach

A four-stage DEA approach is proposed for the analysis of a sample of 28 Indian states for the years 2011, 2013 and 2015 under consideration. First stage calculates the per capita GDP contribution, while stage-2 evaluates the efficiency of investments in social infrastructure followed by the efficiency analysis in economic infrastructure in stage-3. Finally, fourth stage evaluates the co-operative efficiency for the overall performance.

Findings

The findings of three different cases based on population sizes, viz., highly populated, moderately populated and less populated regions suggest that the government can identify the top and poor performers. It also studies the variations in efficiency tally of states using Malmquist indices.

Practical implications

This kind of study will vigilant government and local authorities on the investments made in all the states for social and economic infrastructure and establish a competitive environment among state governments to compete for improved infrastructural growth.

Originality/value

This study is the first of its kind in developing countries like India, which focuses on efficiency analysis using DEA based on two sub-sectors of social–economic infrastructural investments.

Evaluating the higher education productivity of Chinese and European "elite" universities using a meta-frontier approach

This research focuses on a sample of European and Chinese elite universities for the period 2011–2015. We adopt a meta-frontier methodology to decompose their overall productivity in three main determinants: (1) technical efficiency compared with contemporaneous technology, (2) change in technical efficiency and (3) technology relative superiority of the two groups of universities. The results reveal different patterns of evolution: Chinese institutions’ productivity grows faster than that of their European counterparts (+ 7.15%/year vs 4.51%/year), however the latter maintain a higher level of technology in efficient production as a group.

Evaluating the performance of primary schools in India: evidence from West Bengal

Purpose

In the context of India, this article proposes an integrated multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) regression-based methodology to evaluate input-level performance of the schools and investigate the impact of this performance along with contextual factors, i.e. medium of instruction and location of the school, on the school's output level performance, i.e. student pass rate.

Design/methodology/approach

First, Shannon entropy-based approach is applied for the weight assignment to different parameters. Then, integrated VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS)-based methodology is devised to measure the input-level performance of a school. Finally, multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis is incorporated to study the effect of input-level performance and above-mentioned contextual factors on the school's output-level performance.

Findings

Proposed methodology is applied to assess the input-level performance of 82,930 primary and secondary schools of West Bengal, India. All the factors have a significant impact on boys' pass rate, whereas only input-level performance and location of the school have a significant influence on the girls' pass rate.

Practical implications

The entropy-based approach highlights the importance of scientific weight assignment. Integrated MCDM demonstrates the significance of aggregation due to the variation in scores related to input-level performance across the methods. Regression analysis facilitates the exploration of determinants influencing the output-level performance of the schools.

Originality/value

This work depicts a holistic picture of the performance measurement system of the schools. It encompasses scientific weight assignment to the evaluation criteria, integrated input-level performance assessment of the schools and investigation into the effect of this performance, as well as other contextual factors on the output level performance.