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HEI Efficiency and Quality of Life: Seeding the Pro-Sustainability Efficiency

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  • Eugénia de Matos Pedro

    (Research Center in Business Sciences (NECE), Department of Management and Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Beira Interior, 6200-209 Covilhã, Portugal)

  • João Leitão

    (Research Center in Business Sciences (NECE), Department of Management and Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Beira Interior, 6200-209 Covilhã, Portugal
    CEG-IST—Centre for Management Studies of Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
    ICS—Instituto de Ciências Sociais, University of Lisbon, 1600-189 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Helena Alves

    (Research Center in Business Sciences (NECE), Department of Management and Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Beira Interior, 6200-209 Covilhã, Portugal)

Abstract

This study assesses the efficiency of higher education institutions (HEIs), considering the social, environmental and cultural factors (pro-sustainability), and at the same time examines how this efficiency can influence regional quality of life (QoL). The study adopts a two-step methodology. In the first step, the standard Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is used to estimate the efficiency scores of 23 Portuguese public HEIs; and in the second step, a multivariate logit regression is performed to assess the role played by the HEIs’ pro-sustainability efficiency in regional QoL. The main findings reveal that the HEIs located in the Greater Lisbon area have a higher pro-sustainability efficiency, but that efficiency is more significant regarding social factors. Concerning the contribution of pro-sustainability efficiency to the region’s QoL, this is significant for all the components, with the environmental and cultural aspects contributing positively to this significance.

Suggested Citation

  • Eugénia de Matos Pedro & João Leitão & Helena Alves, 2021. "HEI Efficiency and Quality of Life: Seeding the Pro-Sustainability Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-25, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:2:p:514-:d:476502
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel Schiller & Verena Radinger-Peer, 2021. "Introduction: The Role of Universities in Regional Transitions towards Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-4, July.

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