Academic efficiency of engineering university degrees and its driving factors. A PLS-DEA approach

This research develops an academic production function for the educational process of industrial engineers in Colombia. The proposed function objectively analyses the relationships between the academic competencies obtained in secondary education and the university. The data used correspond to the standardized tests of 4,977 students at the end of high school and university. In the first stage of the model, the structure of the production function was empirically evaluated using a Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling approach. Consequently, in the second stage, the efficiency of the relationships in the academic production function is estimated using Data Envelopment Analysis. The Goodness of Fit index of the empirical model was 0.89, thus, confirming the relationships between the construct's variables. The model validates four transformation relationships and subsequently estimates the efficiency of the interactions in the production function. The average efficiency results of the model in its constant scale are 16.30%, 2.17%, and 5.43%. In conclusion, the model explains the capacity of universities to transform inputs (basic competencies of the secondary school) into desired outputs (professional academic competencies). Additionally, the model analyses professional performance from the interactions among academic competencies. © Foundation of International Studies, 2022 and CSR, 2022

Biopsychosocial Assessment and Ergonomics Intervention for Sustainable Living: A Case Study on Flats

This study proposes an ergonomics-based approach for those who are living in small housings (known as flats) in Indonesia. With regard to human capability and limitation, this research shows how the basic needs of human beings are captured and analyzed, followed by proposed designs of facilities and standard living in small housings. Ninety samples were involved during the study through in- depth interview and face-to-face questionnaire. The results show that there were some proposed of modification of critical facilities (such as multifunction ironing work station, bed furniture, and clothesline) and validated through usability testing. Overall, it is hoped that the proposed designs will support biopsychosocial needs and sustainability

Quality-oriented network DEA model for the research efficiency of Philippine universities

In response to the Philippines education system\u27s development plan in strengthening the research culture of the different higher education institutions, this study was conducted to assess the research efficiency of 18 research universities in the country. Standard Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models, have been used in previous researches to measure the relative efficiency of research performance of universities with quantity-oriented indicators inputs and outputs. This study proposed the use of a network DEA (NDEA) model considering quality indicators in assessing the efficiency of the research performance of universities. NDEA allows the measurement of efficiency per stage of a process. The main finding is that the standard DEA tends to exaggerate the research efficiency compared to that of NDEA. The use of quality-oriented publication indicator also revealed that the use of quantity-oriented indicators alone exaggerates the performance of the universities as it is mainly based on the number of researches produced, not considering the impact or quality of each research. Some of the top-performing universities ranked lower with the use of quantity-oriented indicators. © 2019 IEEE