MODELING HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS EFFECTIVENESS IN LATVIA

Abstract

The article discusses the modelling of relative effectiveness of higher education institutions study programmes in Latvia using Data Envelopment Analysis method. The empirical research showed that there is correlation between the number of publication to academic staff a year and ratio of students to academic staff within the programme. The relation is negative (more students – less publications) at the bachelor and master level study programmes, but positive (more students – more publications). This can be explained by the bigger amount of work and accordingly more time dedicated to tuition of bachelor and master level students, as well as being co-authors in the doctoral students’ publications. The research show that there is a lack of funding for patenting and supportive administrative structures at the higher education institutions are not established or are working insufficiently. The author suggests to put more emphasis on patenting issues not only in the policy planning level, but also on the level of each higher education institution by establishing supportive administrative structures. National policy should assist both financially and by enhancing prestige of the basic science, and just as a secondary objective could be the technology transfer in Latvia.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.em.17.2.2215