Assessing the Relative Performance of University Departments: Teaching vs. Research

Abstract

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is known as a non-parametric method to evaluate the relative efficiencies of a set of homogenous decision-making units (DMUs) (i.e., banking, health, education, etc.) that use multiple inputs to produce multiple outputs. DEA models also have applications for universities or specifically, departments of a university. In practice, determining input and output measures may be based on the available data. However, lack of defining an important measure or use of invalid data may mislead the decision maker. Therefore, this study aims to assess the affect of missing values such as by discarding of outputs on DMU’s efficiency values. The up-to-date data for the departments of an engineering faculty are considered and their performances are presented based on teaching and research oriented measures.Data Envelopment Analysis, Higher Education, University Departments, Teaching, Research