Do university units differ in the efficiency of resource utilization

The efficiency of universities is attracting increased interest, with most studies comparing the performance between different universities. However, the within-university variation is largely overlooked in the literature. Using data envelopment analysis this paper identifies heterogeneity in the performance of 47 units of a leading Swedish university (the Royal Institute of Technology) in terms of resource utilization. The findings suggest the following: First, three quarters of the units exhibit similar high performance. Second, the units are more efficient in using resources for research than for teaching. Third, efficiency in research is highly correlated with efficiency in teaching, implying a complementary relationship.

[1]  C. Lovell,et al.  Stochastic Frontier Analysis: Frontmatter , 2000 .

[2]  Jill Johnes.  Measuring teaching efficiency in higher education: An application of data envelopment analysis to economics graduates from UK Universities 1993 , 2006, Eur. J. Oper. Res..

[3]  A. Charnes,et al.  Data Envelopment Analysis Theory, Methodology and Applications , 1995 .

[4]  W. Cooper,et al.  Data Envelopment Analysis: A Comprehensive Text with Models, Applications, References and DEA-Solver Software , 1999 .

[5]  K. Haynes,et al.  University productivity in Sweden: a demonstration and explanatory analysis for economics and business programs , 1996 .

[6]  D. Felsenstein.  The University in the Metropolitan Arena: Impacts and Public Policy Implications , 1996 .

[7]  John Robst,et al.  Cost Efficiency in Public Higher Education Institutions , 2001 .

[8]  Jill Johnes,et al.  Measuring the Research Performance of UK Economics Departments: An Application of Data Envelopment Analysis , 1993 .

[9]  R. Ball,et al.  Performance indicators in higher education , 1987 .

[10]  B. Martin,et al.  University Research Evaluation and Funding: An International Comparison , 2003 .

[11]  H. Goldstein,et al.  Using Examination Results as Indicators of School and College Performance , 1996 .

[12]  Timothy Coelli,et al.  An Introduction to Efficiency and Productivity Analysis , 1997 .

[13]  Noel Hyndman,et al.  Efficiency in the provision of university teaching and research: An empirical analysis of UK universities , 1995 .

[14]  Martin Cave,et al.  Use of Performance Indicators in Higher Education: A Critical Analysis of Developing Practice. , 1988 .

[15]  P. Romer.  Increasing Returns and Long-Run Growth , 1986, Journal of Political Economy.

[16]  James D. Adams,et al.  Research Productivity in a System of Universities , 1996 .

[17]  M. Abbott,et al.  The efficiency of Australian universities: a data envelopment analysis , 2003 .

[18]  C. Kao,et al.  Efficiency analysis of university departments: An empirical study , 2008 .

[19]  K. Chakraborty,et al.  Measurement of Technical Efficiency in Public Education: A Stochastic and Nonstochastic Production Function Approach , 2001 .

[20]  J. Johnes.  Data Envelopment Analysis and Its Application to the Measurement of Efficiency in Higher Education. , 2006 .

[21]  R. Lucas.  On the Mechanics of Economic Development , 1988 .

[22]  Andrew C. Worthington,et al.  Efficiency, technology and productivity change in Australian universities, 1998–2003 , 2008 .

[23]  Léopold Simar,et al.  Efficiency and University Size: Discipline-wise Evidence from European Universities , 2007 .

[24]  I. Feller,et al.  Do US Congressional earmarks increase research output at universities , 2002 .

[25]  Jack E. Triplett,et al.  Productivity in the U.S. Services Sector: New Sources of Economic Growth , 2004 .

[26]  B. Bosworth,et al.  Productivity In The U.S. Services Sector , 2004 .

[27]  William W. Cooper,et al.  Handbook on data envelopment analysis , 2011 .

[28]  J. Beasley.  Determining Teaching and Research Efficiencies , 1995 .