Evaluating the technical efficiency in higher education institutions through multi-directional analysis

Abstract

This work examines the efficiency in higher education institutions using a non-parametric, method based on the Multidirectional Efficiency Analysis (MEA) in combination with other mathematical techniques. The MEA model, proposed by Bogetoft, P. and Hougaard, J.L. (1999), allows investigating changes in the institutions' efficiency standards with multiple desirable inputs and/or outputs, using linear programming.

The MEA model is applied to thirty-one Colombian higher education institutions. Specifically, the institutions considered in the study are public and private undergraduate institutions with a master degree focus. The study is focused on the MEA scores, the efficiency ratios and the inefficiency indexes.

The indicators' selection for the analysis is based on the model of performance Indicators of education introduced by the Ministry of Education of Colombia. The structure of the model involves three dimensions of first level (students, teaching, and environment) and five sub-dimensions of second level (performance, graduates, teaching, research and environment) associated with educational quality.

The results allow a broader vision of (public and privates) higher education institutions, characterizing the institutions in terms of efficiency levels; efficiency patterns; and efficiency determinants. The analysis contributes to the study of the improvement of the quality of higher education, and stronger the importance of systematically evaluating the teaching-learning process.