Evaluating Performance of Universities Using Data Envelopment Analysis

Abstract

Irina Abankina, Ph.D. in Economics, Professor, Director of the Education Development Institute, National Research University — Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation. Email: abankinaI@hse.ru 

Fuad Aleskerov, Eng.D., Professor, Head of Mathematics Department, Faculty of Economics, National Research University — Higher School of Economics, Head of the International Laboratory of Decision Choice and Analysis, National Research University — Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation. Email: alesk@hse.ru 

Veronika Belousova, Ph.D. in Economics, Head of Department for Methodology of Budget Planning at the Institute of Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge, National Research University — Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation. Email: vbelousova@hse.ru 

Kirill Zinkovsky, Ph.D. in Economics, Deputy Director of the Education Development Institute, National Research University — Higher School of Economics. Email: kzinkovsky@hse.ru 

Vsevolod Petrushchenko, intern researcher at the International Laboratory of Decision Choice and Analysis, National Research University — Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation. Email: goroddt@yandex.ru                                   

This paper has systematized DEA-based university efficiency evaluation experience in a number of countries. The authors investigate into DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) models and describe how these models have been implemented by British, German, Greek, Australian and Canadian higher education institutions (HEIs). Comparability of results and consistency of the models have also been studied here.

The study has analyzed specific features of applying DEA models to evaluate efficiency of Russian HEIs, depending on the type of university. Performance of Russian HEIs has been compared with regard to their resource potential in educational and scientific activities. It has been discovered that in general, both classical and technical universities in Russia have more potential in educational activities than in science. Meanwhile, technical universities have a higher overall scientific and educational potential (70–90%) than classical universities (50–60%).

A comparison of performance of Russian and foreign universities has shown that efficiency level in Russia is higher than in Germany, nearly the same as in Australia and lower than in Canada and in Great Britain.

It has been demonstrated through the example of Russian universities that efficiency evaluation should only be performed for universities with similar profiles and basic features. Evaluation of performance of universities allows to reveal their strengths and weaknesses and, knowing this, to build efficient development strategies for each of them.