Improving South African higher education must be considered in the global context of social, environmental, and industrial dilemmas. The policy challenge is translating the academic dimensions of efficiency and effectiveness (teaching, research, productivity) into social dimensions (social, economic, political, industrial, environmental, health,…

Addresses the issue of how institutions of higher education can deal with the dilemma of achieving efficiency while sustaining or enhancing effectiveneness. Describes how the faculty of education at the University of Strathclyde (Scotland) addressed this issue including the major organizational, political, logistical, and educational…

Critically examines the suggestion that unemployment could be reduced by creating jobs in nonprofit organizations, observes trends in the sector's employment and resources, and discusses the conditions in which nonprofit organizations provide social services more efficiently that government and for-profit enterprises. Concludes that this is not a…

In July of 2007, the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy (CEEP) at Indiana University was contracted to conduct an evaluation of the Indiana charter schools. The evaluation has been designed to ensure that all objectives of the provisions of HEA 1001-2007 are fulfilled. In addition, the framework of the study is based in IC 20-24-2-1,…

Cost-effectiveness/benefit analysis is an analytical technique for assessing outputs of educational programs in relation to the program objectives and the associated program costs. It combines the two concepts of cost-effectiveness analysis and cost-benefit analysis into a comprehensive model. The cost-effectiveness/benefit analysis model has been…

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a mathematical model for measuring decision-making units' efficiency, was applied to resource allocation information in the division of occupational and technical programs at San Antonio (Texas) College. Input-output data were used to analyze existing programs' efficiency and proposed program modifications. (RW)

This study applied an analytical technique called Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to calculate the relative technical efficiency of 95 academic research libraries, all members of the Association of Research Libraries. DEA, with the proper model of library inputs and outputs, can reveal best practices in the peer groups, as well as the technical…

Planning can help college public relations officials make the most of their time and energy. One approach includes reviewing institutional mission and strategic plan; setting department goals; identifying and targeting audiences; establishing interdepartmental links; and setting out action, crisis, budget, and evaluation plans in writing. (MSE)

Mixed methods research has increased in popularity over the past 20 years. Literature reveals that exploratory qualitative analysis followed by confirmatory survey research is common and concurrent studies outnumber longitudinal design. Longitudinal studies using quantitative and qualitative methods in sequence for exploratory purposes are rare,…

This paper describes a management system for secondary vocational education programs that is based on a cost-effectiveness analysis model. The model described was developed specifically for use in planning and evaluating secondary school vocational programs, although it might be applied to other educational programs as well. The model generates…

Examines the Fort Worth Independent School District's decentralized decision-making system through three lenses: a review of site-based decision-making procedures at several schools; an examination of who participates; and stakeholders' perceptions. Some schools operated democratically, significantly including teachers, parents, and community…

The assessment of 12 model evaluation systems provides insight and guidance into their development for government managers and evaluators. The eight individual completed grants are documented in a series of case studies, while the synthesis of all the project experiences and results are summarized. There are things that evaluation systems can do…

The evaluation stage in instructional design should extend beyond the preparation of tests to measure student learning to include evaluation of such outcomes as program costs, program effectiveness and efficiency, student attitudes and opinions, teacher and staff reactions, and follow-up evaluations. (CMV)

This article is the first of a series of three in which the authors share the results of their field studies on industrial training. Among the sources of ineffectiveness and inefficiency of training efforts are training given despite no real deficiency, wrong choice of expectations, training as panacea, and training too soon or too late. (CT)

The use of microcomputers for scheduling remedial reading classes in Newport (Rhode Island) schools has increased available instructional time. General guidelines are offered for using computers wisely. (MLF)