Defining typologies of universities through a DEA-MDS analysis: An institutional characterization for formative evaluation purposes

Universities are organizational structures with individual activity mixes or strategies that lead to different performance levels by mission. Evaluation techniques based on performance indicators or rankings risk rewarding just a specific type of university and undermining university diversification: They usually introduce homogenizing pressures and risk displacing university objectives- neglecting their socio-economic contribution and focusing on succeeding on the evaluation system. In this study, we propose an alternative evaluation method that overcomes these limitations. We produce a multidimensional descriptive classification of universities into typologies, while analysing the relation between their institutional factors (characteristics) and their (technical) efficiency performance from a descriptive perspective. To do so we apply bootstrap data envelopment analysis (DEA) and multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS), performing a so-called DEAMDS analysis on data on the Spanish university system, and unlike previous studies, we include data on an important dimension of the third mission of universities (specifically knowledge transfer, KT) in their characterization. We identify six types of (homogeneous) universities. Results indicate that to be fairly efficient, universities may focus on teaching, KT, or overall efficiency but always have to fairly perform in research. Additionally, results confirm the relevance of the third mission as a source of institutional diversity in higher education. This approach could be used to address an alternative evaluation methodology for higher education institutions with formative purposes, evaluating universities according to their unique characteristics for the improvement of HE system

The relevance of knowledge transfer for universities' efficiency scores: An empirical approximation on the Spanish public higher education system

This article examines how knowledge transfer (KT) indicators affect analyses on efficiency in the Higher Education sector, taking into account the characteristics of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). After revising the concept of third mission as a field for data development and its importance in assessing university performance, we applied various data envelopment analysis models with different specifications to 47 Spanish public universities to test whether KT indicators are relevant when evaluating the performance of HEIs in terms of their efficiency and, if so, which indicators are most suitable. Our results suggest that the effect of including KT indicators in the efficiency analyses varies from university to university according to their characteristics. The subject mix taught at the university, the focus according to each mission's relative importance within the total range of activities carried out in each university (mission mix), and the mix of their third mission activities affect the increase of the universities' efficiency scores when KT is taken into account in the analysis. This means that these factors affect the universities' position for the different efficiency score

Comparing university performance by legal status: a Malmquist-type index approach for the case of the Spanish higher education system

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Tertiary Education and Management on 2017, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13583883.2017.1296966New public management and increasing levels of competition driven by global rankings are bringing the managerial practices of public and private higher education institutions closer together. However, these two types of institutions still maintain different objectives and traditions and enjoy different degrees of autonomy that are reflected in their internal organisational structures. We study the relative efficiency and productivity performance of private and public universities in Spain through two adaptations of the Malmquist Index. Results show that, in 2009/2010, the greater flexibility of private universities meant a better adjustment between inputs and outputs in the private sector. However, in 2013/2014, public universities had caught up with private universities. Because of the economic crisis, the inputs of public universities have decreased, but this decrease had not fully impacted their results in 2013/201

Examining strategies behind universities’ technology transfer portfolio: how different patterns of resource consumption can lead to similar technology transfer profiles

Purpose – This research analyses how different patterns of production factors consumption of Spanish universities lead to specific technology transfer (TT) profiles (outcomes). Design/methodology/approach – Adopting a resource-based view perspective (RBV), qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) is used to analyse the relationship between different combinations of resources—human resources, financial resources and support services—and various portfolios of TT outcomes—intellectual or industrial property agreements, spin-offs and TT income. Findings – Results indicate that there is no unique formula of resource consumption that leads to a specific portfolio of TT outcomes. These results seem to reflect the characteristics and competences added by universities, along with the characteristics of their socioeconomic context. From a RVB perspective, this indicates that the considered resources are substitutable. Practical implications – The effectiveness of university policies is expected to vary by university, e.g. depending on the type of resources that is most relevant in the university’s production process. To develop competitive advantages Spanish public universities must resort to internal intangible resources or specific and inimitable combinations of the available resources. Social implications – Since Spanish universities are heterogeneous and display different TT portfolios they address the needs of different users. Originality/value – Previous studies have failed to acknowledge the heterogeneity among universities. To perform our analysis we employed QCA, an innovative methodology in the higher education sector that enables us to purposefully acknowledge institutional diversity (in both resources and results). This allows us to indirectly take into account the capabilities of universities using a more holistic approach to evaluate their competitiveness.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Análisis los estándares, regulaciones, políticas y estrategias (tanto nacionales como internacionales) sobre ciencia abierta en la educación superior – Entregable 1

Este informe recoge los resultados de una revisión de la literatura en la que la documentación sobre estándares, regulaciones, políticas y estrategias en materia de Ciencia Abierta (CA) se ha organizado mediante un enfoque de pirámide invertida: comenzando por la revisión de las directrices sobre CA de los organismos supranacionales (UNESCO y OCDE); para pasar a analizar cómo este planteamiento se traduce en Europa a nivel institucional (enfoque e iniciativas de la UE) y a nivel universitario; y así, por último, revisar el caso español, poniendo nuevamente el foco tanto en el nivel institucional (legislación e iniciativas estatales) como universitario. Este enfoque permite analizar de manera estructurada el contexto institucional en el que las universidades españolas están implantando la CA, siendo una pieza fundamental para el desarrollo del proyecto ROSUUE. Los resultados de este análisis muestran como el desarrollo de la CA en los diferentes niveles geográficos (supranacional, UE y España) están alineados. La OCDE y la UNESCO coinciden relativamente en las características de la CA (salvando las diferencias en relación al enfoque cultural y ético de la UNESCO y económico de la OCDE). La UE refleja las indicaciones de la UNESO y la OCDE en su visión de la CA y en las iniciativas implementadas, y las asociaciones universitarias europeas impulsan (en consonancia con la UE) la implementación de la CA en las instituciones de educación superior y el cambio de cultura necesario para ello. Por último, la normativa e iniciativas españolas (ya sean nacionales o de asociaciones universitarias) se suman al enfoque europeo y colaboran con algunas de sus iniciativas. Asimismo, los pasos para la implementación de la CA en España, por ahora, se enfocan principalmente en la disponibilidad en abierto de los resultados de investigación (principalmente los artículos), aunque también de los datos de investigaciónEsta investigación ha sido financiada parcialmente por el Programa Estatal de I+D+i Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad, en el marco del proyecto "El rol de la Open Science en la Universidad española: Transformación institucional y gobernanza anticipatoria" (ROSSUE, PID2019-104052RB-C21

How to support mobility students to gain soft-competences: Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes

Students participating in mobility experiences have a great learning opportunity, but in many cases they hardly realise about the soft-competences they developed during mobility. In this context, the supporting role of universities is key for students to make the most of their mobility and be able to communicate their learning outcomes. This study analyses the support services that students receive for the development and acknolwledgement of mobility soft comptencies (related with the three dimensiones: knowledge, skills and attitudes or KSAs) in order to define the university strategy in this field. Results show two types of support for outgoing and incoming students: (i) passive initiatives based on delivering relevant information for the mobility period to students; and (ii) active initiatives based on training activities and activities for student integration in the host university/city/culture. No support initiatives on mobility related KSAs for returned students or academic staff have been identified.De La Torre, EM.; Casani, F.; Pérez Encinas, A.; Rodríguez Pomeda, J. (2020). How to support mobility students to gain soft-competences: Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes. En 6th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'20). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. (30-05-2020):1279-1287. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd20.2020.11248OCS1279128730-05-202

MCQ-Balance: a method to monitor patients with balance disorders and improve clinical interpretation of posturography

Background An estimated 20% to 30% of the global population has suffered a vertiginous episode. Among them, 20% do not receive a clear diagnosis. Improved methods, indicators and metrics are necessary to assess the sensory systems related to balance, especially when patients are undergoing treatment for vertiginous episodes. Patients with balance disorders should be monitored for changes at the individual level to gather objective information. In this study, we evaluate the use of the MCQ-Balance (Measure, Classify and Qualify) assessment for examining a patient’s balance progression using tests to measure static balance control and dynamic postural balance with a stabilometric platform. Materials and Methods The MCQ-Balance assessment comprises three stages: (i) measuring the progression of each variable between two separate and consecutive days (called sessions) using the Magnitude-Based Decision analysis; (ii) classifying the progression of the patient’s balance with a score; and (iii) qualifying the progression of the patient’s balance from the resulting scores using a set of rules. This method was applied to 42 patients with balance disorders of peripheral or central origin characterised by vertigo as the cardinal symptom. Balance progression was measured using the MCQ-Balance assessment over the course of three months, and these results were compared with the assessment of a clinical expert. Results The MCQ-Balance assessment showed an accuracy of 83.4% and a Cohen’s Kappa coefficient of 0.752 compared to the assessment of a clinical expert. Conclusion The MCQ-Balance assessment facilitates the monitoring of patient balance and provides objective information that has the potential to improve medical decision making and the adjustment of individual treatment

Mejora de la aplicación clínica de métodos e instrumentación para evaluación de trastornos del equilibrio: Monitorización de pacientes y apoyo al diagnóstico por medio de modelos predictivos

Entre las patologías más frecuentes en la actualidad, destacan los trastornos del equilibrio, teniendo especial prevalencia en personas mayores y en países desarrollados. Los trastornos del equilibrio son una patología que se caracteriza principalmente por síntomas de vértigo y mareo, y se calcula que un cuarto de la población tendrá un episodio vertiginoso en su vida. Las caídas y las lesiones inducidas por las mismas son problemas de salud pública de primer orden a nivel mundial. De manera complementaria, también existen alteraciones o patologías que pueden afectar a los sistemas sensoriales que sustentan el equilibrio, existiendo la necesidad de monitorizarlos para evaluar su progresión en el tiempo. Sin embargo, no resulta sencillo obtener información objetiva del diagnóstico o progresión de un paciente afectado por trastornos del equilibrio; destacando la complejidad para obtener informes concisos con información comprensible y fácil de interpretar por facultativos sanitarios, que deben prescribir tratamientos a dichos pacientes.Asimismo, y en relación con la necesidad de obtener métodos o procesos para poder aprovechar mejor la información en el campo de la salud, destaca el incremento exponencial de los datos que los centrossanitarios generan y requieren manejar, así como la compleja gestión de dicha información, siendo la disciplina científica Machine Learning una posible solución para abordar esta problemática. Sin embargo, aplicar las técnicas de este tipo de disciplina en el campo de la salud conlleva un alto grado de complejidad.La presente tesis pretende dar respuesta a las incertidumbres y problemáticas expuestas a través de variasinvestigaciones que han tratado de proporcionar información objetiva sobre el estado de pacientes que presentan trastornos del equilibrio, así como monitorizar este tipo de patologías mediante diversos métodos e instrumentación; igualmente, se han definido los procesos y particularidades para la generación de modelos predictivos como herramienta de apoyo al diagnóstico en el ámbito de la salud. En concreto, los objetivos de la tesis son: generar y proporcionar información objetiva sobre el estado de pacientes que presentan trastornos del equilibrio; monitorizar y analizar la progresión de este tipo de patologías en pacientes inmersos en tratamientos de rehabilitación; generar modelos predictivos para mejora del diagnóstico en el ámbito de la salud.Esta tesis se ha complementado con una estancia de investigación de cuatro meses en el Laboratoire de biomécanique et mécanique des chocs (Université Gustave Eiffel) en Lyon (Francia). El cuerpo principal de esta tesis consiste en una compilación de cinco artículos, los cuales han sido publicados en revistas científicas indexadas en el JCR.<br /

Changes in the phenolic content of low density lipoprotein after olive oil consumption in men. A randomized crossover controlled trial

Olive oil decreases the risk of CVD. This effect may be due to the fatty acid profile of the oil, but it may also be due to its antioxidant content which differs depending on the type of olive oil. In this study, the concentrations of oleic acid and antioxidants (phenolic compounds and vitamin E) in plasma and LDL were compared after consumption of three similar olive oils, but with differences in their phenolic content. Thirty healthy volunteers participated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover, randomized supplementation trial. Virgin, common, and refined olive oils were administered during three periods of 3 weeks separated by a 2-week washout period. Participants were requested to ingest a daily dose of 25 ml raw olive oil, distributed over the three meals of the day, during intervention periods. All three olive oils caused an increase in plasma and LDL oleic acid (P,0·05) content. Olive oils rich in phenolic compounds led to an increase in phenolic compounds in LDL (P, 0·005). The concentration of phenolic compounds in LDL was directly correlated with the phenolic concentration in the olive oils. The increase in the phenolic content of LDL could account for the increase of the resistance of LDL to oxidation, and the decrease of the in vivo oxidized LDL, observed in the frame of this trial. Our results support the hypothesis that a daily intake of virgin olive oil promotes protective LDL changes ahead of its oxidation. Olive oil: Oleic acid: Phenolic compounds: LDL: CVD risk CVD is the main cause of death and disability in developed countries 1 -3 . The type of fat consumed can modify the plasma and LDL lipid profile, which is directly related to the growth of atheroma plaque To date, few studies have analysed the effects of sustained olive oil consumption on human LDL composition. The few available data come from short-term studies Materials and methods Study population An in-person screening visit was conducted to ascertain eligibility and obtain baseline data. Forty-two subjects from a religious community were screened for inclusion. Nine of them were ineligible. Thus, thirty-three healthy volunteers, from 23 to 91 years old, with a regular lifestyle and dietary habits * Corresponding author: Dr M. Carmen López Sabater, fax þ 34-93 403 59 31, email [email protected] Abbreviations: CAE, caffeic acid equivalents; FAME, fatty acid methyl esters

Who benefits from HEIs engagement? An analysis of priority stakeholders and activity profiles of HEIs in the United Kingdom

It has been suggested that higher education institutions (HEIs) may develop different activity profiles (including research, teaching and socio-economic engagement) in their attempt to maximise the fit between institutional resources and strategic opportunities; the latter include strategies of engagement with different groups of external stakeholders. Understanding the extent to which HEIs’ resources and activity profiles are aligned with their strategic prioritisation of stakeholder groups, allows us to better understand the different ways in which HEIs drive socioeconomic development. Using non-parametric techniques – qualitative and quantitative ordinal multidimensional scaling – applied to data on the universe of HEIs in the United Kingdom, we show that HEIs with different institutional resources and undertaking different sets of activities prioritise their engagement with different stakeholder groups. We also confirm the complex associations between HEIs’ institutional resources, activity profiles and stakeholder prioritisation strategies, which lock HEIs into configurations that are difficult to change