Evaluation of Educational Quality Under a Six Sigma Approach to Engineering Degrees in Colombia

In this research, a methodology is developed to measure the quality of the Colombian educational system by analyzing universities and their academic programs. For the above, a Six Sigma approach is used as a tool for educational management in order to classify, evaluate and analyze the educational system having two approaches: universities and academic programs. Consequently, this article is divided into 5 sections: In the first section, a review of research carried out on quality and HEIs is carried out. The second section presents the research methodology, describes the study population and variables. The third section shows the results derived from the application of the Six Sigma methodology. The fourth section presents the discussion and recommendations. Finally, the fifth section presents the conclusions. Now, within the most significant findings, it is found that the sigma level of the Colombian educational system is found at Z = 2.17 and Y = 75% and is considered, according to what is established in the methodology of this work, as an acceptable level. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Un enfoque de Seis Sigma para evaluar la calidad de la educación superior en Colombia

University institutions face challenges of competitiveness derived from the demands of society, changes in student preferences, and technological evolution; this raises the need to generate objective tools for decision-making to identify the institutions that are effectively contributing to the training of high-level professionals. In this research, a methodology is developed under the Six Sigma approach to measuring the performance of the educational system. Now, to evaluate the methodology, data from the Colombian test for the evaluation of quality in higher education in the area of engineering are used. The results show that the sigma level of the Colombian education system is at Z= 2.17 and a performance Y= 75%, which according to the criteria established in the research is considered an acceptable level. As a significant contribution of the study, a structure for the evaluation, monitoring, and improvement of university education using the Six Sigma approach is presented. The proposed structure is replicable and reproducible to any educational environment where standardized tests are implementedLas instituciones universitarias se enfrentan a retos de competitividad que se enmarcan en las exigencias de la sociedad, los cambios de preferencia de los estudiantes y la evolución tecnológica; esto plantea la necesidad de generar herramientas objetivas para la toma de decisiones que permitan identificar las instituciones que están aportando efectivamente a la formación de profesionales de alto nivel. En el presente trabajo se desarrolla una metodología bajo el enfoque Seis Sigma para medir el desempeño del sistema educativo. Ahora, para evaluar la metodología se utilizan datos del examen colombiano para la evaluación de la calidad en la educación superior para el área de Ingeniería. Los resultados muestran que el nivel sigma del sistema educativo colombiano se encuentra en Z= 2,17 y un rendimiento Y= 75%, lo cual dentro de los criterios establecidos en la investigación es considerado un nivel Aceptable. Como aporte significativo del estudio se presenta una estructura para la evaluación, monitoreo y mejoramiento de la de educación universitaria utilizando el enfoque Seis Sigma. La estructura propuesta es replicable y reproducible a cualquier entorno educativo donde se implementen exámenes estandarizados