Measuring Efficiency of a University Faculty Using an Extended Hierarchical Network DEA Model: A Framework

Within the context of changing economic across Malaysia, measuring efficiency of a university faculty is important to ensure effective allocation of educational resources. The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique has been widely used in measuring efficiency of higher education. However, the method can still be improved in accordance to the current education development. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to propose a framework of an extended hierarchical structure of a university faculty by taking several cases into consideration for the model. The proposed framework includes new inputs in sub-components and direct intermediate component. These new inputs together with the produced outputs are considered to measure the faculty's efficiency by using a network DEA model. The framework consists of four phases: (1) Form a hierarchical structure; (2) Determine the input and output; (3) Develop efficiency model and (4) Validate the model. A university can be hierarchically structured into several functions for it consists of three major functions namely teaching, research and others. The main inputs of the educational system should reflect foreign and local academics of different ranks, nonacademics, and the expenses. Besides, the number of international accredited programs is introduced as a new input. Subsequently, the outputs should measure the impact and quality of all major functions of a university which include the number of graduates from the accredited programs, the number of main researchers based on different types of grants, the number of expert lecturers and income from organizing conferences. Moreover, the number of collaboration activities is suggested as a new output of the system. In conclusion, the application of proposed framework with a proper mathematical model will enable the top management of the university to identify weaknesses of each function and thus plan suitable actions to improve the overall performance of the university.