Measuring the Institutional Efficiency Using DEA and AHP: the Case of a Mexican University

 

A. Altamirano-Corro*, R. Peniche Vera

 

Facultad de Ingeniería - Posgrado Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro Querétaro, Qro. México. *jaaltami@gmail.com

 

Abstract

There is a general interest in the study of schemes for the measurement of the efficiency of universities, which generates demand but at the same time is controversial because of the complexity of the problem. This problem is associated with the highly combinatorial characteristics that occur when facing the selection of the proper combination of the attributes, namely inputs and outputs. This investigation proposes an approach to measure the institutional efficiency in higher educational institutions combining Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Both methods are frequently used independently, on a global level in areas such as government, business, industry, health care and education. The use of the two methodologies as an evaluation tool is novel and very useful in institutional efficiency studies where results already exist, in order to obtain and confirm important equivalences. The use of the proposed approach is demonstrated using the Queretaro State University-Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro (UAQ)-as a case study.

Keywords: data envelopment analysis, analytic hierarchy process, linear programming, efficiency.

 

Resumen

Hay un interés general en el estudio de los esquemas para la medición de la eficiencia en las universidades, que genera demanda y al mismo tiempo controversia debido a la complejidad del problema, asociada al carácter altamente combinatorio que se presenta para la seleccionar la combinación adecuada de los múltiples atributos (inputs y outputs). En esta investigación se propone un enfoque para medir la eficiencia institucional en la educación superior combinando el Proceso de Jerarquía Analítica (PJA) con el Análisis Envolvente de datos (AED). Actualmente, ambas metodologías son usadas ampliamente de manera independiente, a nivel mundial en áreas, tales como gobierno, negocios, industria, atención de salud y educación. El uso conjunto de las dos metodologías constituye una herramienta novedosa y es muy útil para estudios de eficiencia institucional, ya que los resultados que arroja permiten obtener y confirmar equivalencias importantes. La utilización del enfoque propuesto es ilustrada con el caso de la Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro (UAQ).

 

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