Title: Efficiency in higher education: a contextual framework and relevant issues based on review of literature

Authors: Sarbjeet Kaur

Addresses: School of Management Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala, 147001, India

Abstract: This paper aims to provide an overview of the literature regarding the efficiency of higher education institutions. This paper presents a scheme that identifies the gaps in the literature and proposes future research directions. It also summarises and reviews previously reported useful resources, such as inputs and outputs, as well as other important related variables, such as methodology in the field of efficiency in higher education institutions. Furthermore, it analyses papers that reported efficiency of universities employing data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology. Various studies from developed countries have reported efficiency in higher education institutions. This paper presents an inclusive literature review and analysis of efficiency in higher education institutions. It might be a supportive source for researchers and academicians who ought to understand the importance of efficiency in higher education organisations and conduct further research. It also provides important information regarding the key indicators of input and output for researchers.

Keywords: efficiency; inputs; outputs; DEA; data envelopment analysis; funnel; literature; higher education institutions; resources.

DOI: 10.1504/JGBA.2025.150981

Journal for Global Business Advancement, 2025 Vol.17 No.3, pp.351 - 372

Received: 02 May 2019
Accepted: 31 May 2019
Published online: 07 Jan 2026 *

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