Evaluating the Performance of the Quantitative Goals of Higher Education in the Sixth Economic, Social and Cultural Development Plan

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the achievement of goals and the quantitative indicators of higher education focusing on capacity building and human resource development according to the Sixth Development Plan and at the same time, highlighting key lessons as to the preparation of documents for the Seventh Development Plan.

Using the Design Science Research (DSR) methodology together with prescriptive orientation, this study applied the case study research method and documentary study to evaluate the outcomes of higher education in the Sixth Development Plan. In terms of data collection and analysis, independent samples of T-test and bibliographic method based on indexing were performed.

The findings of the study indicate that conceptually all indicators in the higher education sector have been input and/or output-oriented; however, effectiveness and outcomes have not been considered. In terms of performance review, such indicators as "share of non-governmental university students", "ratio of full-time faculty members including assistant professor and higher ranks to the total of full-time faculty members in universities affiliated to the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology", as well as "number of Iranian university branches abroad" are all in a good condition; Nevertheless, the indicators "share of foreign students", "number of postgraduate students in departments of Basic Sciences" and "share of skills training" are not satisfactory.

Originality:

 Applying index-based and outcome-based model, the performance of the quantitative goals of higher education under the Sixth Development Plan has been evaluated for the first time in Iran. Accordingly, the research results provide policy implications for policymakers so that they may consider a more diverse range of indicators in different performance dimensions.