Designing a university performance evaluation model with a comparative study approach in the European higher education system

The objective of this research was to design an appropriate model for evaluating the performance of universities using a comparative approach within the European higher education system. This model aims to improve the performance evaluation system of universities and provide strategies for enhancing the quality of education and research in Iranian universities.

This study is applied in terms of purpose and field-based in terms of data collection. The research was conducted using a mixed-methods approach (qualitative-quantitative), where content analysis was used in the qualitative phase and confirmatory factor analysis was employed in the quantitative phase. The qualitative sample included 12 senior managers, experts, and key informants in university performance evaluation, selected purposively. The quantitative population consisted of 1,700 managers, deputies, faculty members, and staff from universities in western Mazandaran Province in 2022, with 375 participants selected through Cochran's formula using a non-probability convenience sampling method. Data collection tools included semi-structured interviews and a researcher-made questionnaire.

The results revealed nine components that play a role in designing the university performance evaluation model. These components are: performance information content, performance information coherence, performance information manageability, performance information relevance, customer perspective, growth and learning perspective, internal processes perspective, financial perspective, and sustainable value creation perspective. Prioritization of these components showed that the financial perspective had the highest priority, while sustainable value creation had the lowest priority in explaining university performance. Additionally, the results indicated that the current status of universities in western Mazandaran, based on the designed evaluation model, was below the desired level.

Originality/Value:

 This research contributes to the existing literature on university performance evaluation by designing a model with a comparative approach within the European higher education system. Furthermore, by identifying key components and prioritizing them, this study provides actionable strategies for improving university performance and enhancing the quality of education and research in Iran's higher education system.