IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i17p10671-d898945.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Comprehensive Evaluation Framework to Assess the Sustainable Development of Schools within a University: Application to a Chinese University

Author

Listed:
  • Hong Li

    (Wuhan University Archives, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China)

  • Zilin Chen

    (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China)

Abstract

Higher education institutions have long played a critical role in society. The sustainable development of universities—wherein they consistently maintain a high level of performance in teaching, research, innovation, and stewardship of talent—is increasingly viewed as critical to driving social change and building a sustainable future. Every year, many organizations publish rankings to assess and compare the performance of universities across a nation or the world. However, few of these rankings focus on the differences in performance between individual schools within a particular university, which is crucial to improving the quality of the institution as a whole. This study attempts to fill this knowledge gap by proposing a comprehensive evaluation framework to allow for systematic and standardized analysis of performance at the school/college level according to any combination of relevant indicators. The framework builds upon existing work related to the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) methods and proposes an improved model that mitigates defects in previous models while enhancing interpretability and stability. An applied example in which this framework is used to evaluate schools of humanities and social sciences disciplines at Wuhan University in China is provided. The results of the applied example show that the framework enables an in-depth analysis of performance levels through multiple perspectives, thereby providing valuable insights for formulating targeted strategies to improve school performance and enhance the sustainable development of higher education institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Hong Li & Zilin Chen, 2022. "A Comprehensive Evaluation Framework to Assess the Sustainable Development of Schools within a University: Application to a Chinese University," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-12, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:10671-:d:898945
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/17/10671/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/17/10671/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lai, Young-Jou & Liu, Ting-Yun & Hwang, Ching-Lai, 1994. "TOPSIS for MODM," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 76(3), pages 486-500, August.
    2. Thomas L. Saaty & Müjgan Sağır Özdemir & Jennifer S. Shang, 2015. "The Rationality of Punishment — Measuring the Severity of Crimes: An AHP-Based Orders-of-Magnitude Approach," International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making (IJITDM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 14(01), pages 5-16.
    3. Huibing Cheng & Shanshui Zheng & Jianghong Feng, 2022. "A Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Method for Sustainable Ferry Operator Selection: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-22, May.
    4. Ho, William & Ma, Xin, 2018. "The state-of-the-art integrations and applications of the analytic hierarchy process," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(2), pages 399-414.
    5. Zhanyong Jin & Shuang Xia & Huanhuan Cao & Xiaohan Geng & Zimeng Cheng & Hongbo Sun & Menglin Jia & Qingyue Liu & Jie Sun, 2022. "Evaluation and Optimization of Sustainable Development Level of Construction Industrialization: Case Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-19, July.
    6. Murat Perit Çakır & Cengiz Acartürk & Oğuzhan Alaşehir & Canan Çilingir, 2015. "A comparative analysis of global and national university ranking systems," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 103(3), pages 813-848, June.
    7. Baosheng Xu & Ningning Qi & Jianpeng Zhou & Qingfu Li, 2022. "Reliability Assessment of Highway Bridges Based on Combined Empowerment–TOPSIS Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-20, June.
    8. Jiangtao Zhao & Xiaojin Zhang & Lijian Qi & Li Liu & Miao Huo, 2022. "A Comprehensive Post Evaluation of the Implementation of Water-Saving Measures in Xiangtan, Hunan Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-10, April.
    9. Hui Wang & Jing Zhou & Zhiyuan Dun & Jianhua Cheng & Hujun Li & Zhilin Dun, 2022. "Resilience Evaluation of High-Speed Railway Subgrade Construction Systems in Goaf Sites," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, June.
    10. Yan Wang & Chengyu Xi & Shuai Zhang & Wenyu Zhang & Dejian Yu, 2015. "Combined Approach for Government E-Tendering Using GA and TOPSIS with Intuitionistic Fuzzy Information," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(7), pages 1-20, July.
    11. Marlo M Vernon & E Andrew Balas & Shaher Momani, 2018. "Are university rankings useful to improve research? A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nishat Alam Choudhary & Shalabh Singh & Tobias Schoenherr & M. Ramkumar, 2023. "Risk assessment in supply chains: a state-of-the-art review of methodologies and their applications," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 322(2), pages 565-607, March.
    2. Zorica Lazić & Aleksandar Đorđević & Albina Gazizulina, 2021. "Improvement of Quality of Higher Education Institutions as a Basis for Improvement of Quality of Life," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-27, April.
    3. Horváth, Zsófia & Neszveda, Gábor, 2024. "Új szempont a magyar felsőoktatási intézmények teljesítményének mérésében - az egyetemek online láthatósága [Online visibility - A new aspect of measuring the performance of Hungarian higher educat," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(7), pages 755-790.
    4. Jelena Lukić & Mirjana Misita & Dragan D. Milanović & Ankica Borota-Tišma & Aleksandra Janković, 2022. "Determining the Risk Level in Client Analysis by Applying Fuzzy Logic in Insurance Sector," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(18), pages 1-17, September.
    5. Wenyao Niu & Yuan Rong & Liying Yu & Lu Huang, 2022. "A Novel Hybrid Group Decision Making Approach Based on EDAS and Regret Theory under a Fermatean Cubic Fuzzy Environment," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(17), pages 1-30, August.
    6. Yan Jia & Junfeng Wang & Xin Han & Haiqi Tang & Xiaoling Xiao, 2023. "Application and Performance Evaluation of Industrial Internet Platform in Power Generation Equipment Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-30, October.
    7. Penglong Wang & Yao Wei & Fanglei Zhong & Xiaoyu Song & Bao Wang & Qinhua Wang, 2022. "Evaluation of Agricultural Water Resources Carrying Capacity and Its Influencing Factors: A Case Study of Townships in the Arid Region of Northwest China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-24, May.
    8. Mohammad Reza Salehizadeh & Mahdi Amidi Koohbijari & Hassan Nouri & Akın Taşcıkaraoğlu & Ozan Erdinç & João P. S. Catalão, 2019. "Bi-Objective Optimization Model for Optimal Placement of Thyristor-Controlled Series Compensator Devices," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-16, July.
    9. Önder, Ali Sina & Schweitzer, Sascha & Yilmazkuday, Hakan, 2021. "Specialization, field distance, and quality in economists’ collaborations," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 15(4).
    10. Anis Assad Neto & Jessyca Sampaio & Silvana Pereira Detro & Fernando Deschamps & Eduardo Alves Portela Santos & Eduardo de Freitas Rocha Loures, 2021. "Reconciling process flexibility and standardization: a case study in the automotive industry," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 507-524, December.
    11. Wysocka Karolina & Jungnickel Christian & Szelągowska-Rudzka Katarzyna, 2022. "Internationalization and Quality Assurance in Higher Education," Management, Sciendo, vol. 26(1), pages 204-230, January.
    12. Cinzia Daraio & Simone Di Leo & Loet Leydesdorff, 2022. "Using the Leiden Rankings as a Heuristics: Evidence from Italian universities in the European landscape," LEM Papers Series 2022/08, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    13. Javier Velázquez & Javier Infante & Inmaculada Gómez & Ana Hernando & Derya Gülçin & Fernando Herráez & Víctor Rincón & Rui Alexandre Castanho, 2023. "Walkability under Climate Pressure: Application to Three UNESCO World Heritage Cities in Central Spain," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-28, April.
    14. Rui Guo & Zhenyong Wu, 2023. "Social sustainable supply chain performance assessment using hybrid fuzzy-AHP–DEMATEL–VIKOR: a case study in manufacturing enterprises," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(11), pages 12273-12301, November.
    15. Łatuszyńska Anna, 2014. "Multiple-Criteria Decision Analysis Using Topsis Method For Interval Data In Research Into The Level Of Information Society Development," Folia Oeconomica Stetinensia, Sciendo, vol. 13(2), pages 63-76, July.
    16. Shahryar Rahnamayan & Sedigheh Mahdavi & Kalyanmoy Deb & Azam Asilian Bidgoli, 2020. "Ranking Multi-Metric Scientific Achievements Using a Concept of Pareto Optimality," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-46, June.
    17. Huiru Zhao & Nana Li, 2016. "Performance Evaluation for Sustainability of Strong Smart Grid by Using Stochastic AHP and Fuzzy TOPSIS Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-22, January.
    18. Zsolt Kohus & Márton Demeter & László Kun & Eszter Lukács & Katalin Czakó & Gyula Péter Szigeti, 2022. "A Study of the Relation between Byline Positions of Affiliated/Non-Affiliated Authors and the Scientific Impact of European Universities in Times Higher Education World University Rankings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-14, October.
    19. Olga Porro & Francesc Pardo-Bosch & Núria Agell & Mónica Sánchez, 2020. "Understanding Location Decisions of Energy Multinational Enterprises within the European Smart Cities’ Context: An Integrated AHP and Extended Fuzzy Linguistic TOPSIS Method," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-29, May.
    20. Manuel Muñoz-Suárez & Natividad Guadalajara & José M. Osca, 2020. "A Comparative Analysis between Global University Rankings and Environmental Sustainability of Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-19, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:10671-:d:898945. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.