Governance assessment: a case study in the public university of Ecuador

Abstract

Governance in public university management has become a trend all over the world. It is investigated in Europe, Africa, Asia, United States and Latin America. Its applicability and importance are supported by several researchers. As a result, there are different methodologies and typologies to evaluate governance. Most of them are theoretical models or guides to analyse its accomplishment, although others evaluate governance with a mixed approach.

Considering the Ecuadorian context, there are few investigations about governance evaluation in public university management. Nonetheless, the model proposed evaluates the governance in public Higher Education Institutions. The proposal has the support of the Delphi method, it starts identifying the stakeholders and their level of incidence. Then, it evaluates five dimensions (considering indicators): management, participation, accountability, autonomy and transparency.

The objectives of this investigation are, evidencing applicability and validity of the governance model for public university in Ecuador and comparing the public university dimensions results. An explanatory case study is selected to sustenance them. Therefore, two public universities located in the zone six of Ecuador are considered for this case study. In order to evaluate each dimension, the data is collected through surveys, meetings and information requirements in both universities. Successively, the data is validated by an external assessor. The results of five dimensions will provide the measure of governance achievement in public universities. The governance model is applicable and useful as well, to improve public university management