Research Article

Evaluating an education model via Pythagorean fuzzy AHP and decision tree

Number: Advanced Online Publication Early Pub Date: May 12, 2026

Evaluating an education model via Pythagorean fuzzy AHP and decision tree

Abstract

Applied education models aim to prepare students for professional careers by bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience. However, existing literature on these models has mostly focused on expert and institutional perspectives, with limited consideration given to students' perceptions and expectations. This study examines an applied education model implemented at an industrial university. Taking a holistic approach, the study evaluates student feedback and the opinions of academic and industry experts to fill this gap in the literature. The research used a hybrid methodological framework combining the Pythagorean Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process and a decision tree algorithm. The data were obtained from 76 students and 13 academic and industry experts. The Pythagorean Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process was used to determine the weights of the evaluation criteria based on the opinions of students and experts, and the decision tree algorithm was used to analyze the structural and predictive relationships between the criteria. Correlation analysis was also performed to examine the relationships between the criteria. The findings suggest that the criteria of ‘Developing a foreign language’, ‘Developing a network’, ‘Graduating with a high average’, and ‘Developing program/software skills’ significantly impact students’ five-year career planning. The results reveal that the dimensions of academic guidance, industry collaboration, and skills development form a complementary structure. This study makes a theoretical contribution to the literature on applied education by presenting a multi-criterion, data-driven analysis model that integrates student perspectives with expert evaluations to develop feasible suggestions for strengthening the alignment between higher education and industry.

Keywords

References

  1. Ağçay, F. (2024). Üçüncü nesil üniversiteler [Third generation universties]. Social Sciences Studies Journal, 5(49), 6314-6322. https://doi.org/10.26449/sssj.1898
  2. Bayrak, A. (2021). Sektörel bakış: Üniversite-Sanayi işbirliği üzerine bir değerlendirme [An evaluation on university industry cooperation]. Erciyes Academy, 35(2), 386 396. https://izlik.org/JA28ZM84NM
  3. Cengiz, E. (2014). Üniversite–Sanayi işbirliği üzerine değerlendirmeler [Assessments on university-industry collaboration]. Journal of Higher Education, 4(1), 1-8. https://izlik.org/JA63TK49HL
  4. Chen, S., & Lin, X. (2023). Application of decision tree algorithm in educational data mining. Curriculum and Teaching Methodology, 6(8), 120 127. https://doi.org/10.23977/curtm.2023.060818
  5. Çağıl, G., & Toklu, M.C. (2018). Sakarya Üniversitesi Endüstri Mühendisliği bölümünde uygulamalı mühendislik deneyimi modeli ve öğrenciler üzerindeki etkileri [Applied engineering experience model in Sakarya University Industrial Engineering department and effects on students]. Sakarya University Journal of Science, 22(2), 572-580. https://doi.org/10.16984/saufenbilder.336176
  6. Çalış, Ş., Turan, Ş.A., Maç, S.D., & Tan, E. (2020). İşyeri uygulamasının istihdam edilebilirliğe katkısı: Sakarya Üniversitesi İKY bölümü öğrencileri üzerine bir araştırma [Contribution of work-based learning to employability: A research on the students of HRM department of Sakarya University]. Sakarya Economics Journal, 9(4), 435-460. https://izlik.org/JA24UL53UZ
  7. Çiftçi, S., Pınarbaşı, M., Yazıcı, E., & Alakaş, H.M. (2023). Evaluation of the companies for applied education under fuzzy environment: A case in an industrial university. Neural Computing and Applications, 35(29), 21675-21695. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00521-023-08926-x
  8. Çiftçi, S., Pınarbaşı, M., & Alakaş, H.M. (2025). Evaluation of companies in applied education: Determining the criteria and a case study at an industrial university. International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making, 24(7), 2079 2115. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219622025500300

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Measurement and Evaluation in Education (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

May 12, 2026

Publication Date

-

Submission Date

August 18, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 9, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

APA
Çiftçi, S., & Özer, S. (2026). Evaluating an education model via Pythagorean fuzzy AHP and decision tree. International Journal of Assessment Tools in Education, Advanced Online Publication. https://izlik.org/JA59JK59JK
AMA
1.Çiftçi S, Özer S. Evaluating an education model via Pythagorean fuzzy AHP and decision tree. Int. J. Assess. Tools Educ. 2026;(Advanced Online Publication). https://izlik.org/JA59JK59JK
Chicago
Çiftçi, Sema, and Serpil Özer. 2026. “Evaluating an Education Model via Pythagorean Fuzzy AHP and Decision Tree”. International Journal of Assessment Tools in Education, no. Advanced Online Publication. https://izlik.org/JA59JK59JK.
EndNote
Çiftçi S, Özer S (May 1, 2026) Evaluating an education model via Pythagorean fuzzy AHP and decision tree. International Journal of Assessment Tools in Education Advanced Online Publication
IEEE
[1]S. Çiftçi and S. Özer, “Evaluating an education model via Pythagorean fuzzy AHP and decision tree”, Int. J. Assess. Tools Educ., no. Advanced Online Publication, May 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA59JK59JK
ISNAD
Çiftçi, Sema - Özer, Serpil. “Evaluating an Education Model via Pythagorean Fuzzy AHP and Decision Tree”. International Journal of Assessment Tools in Education. Advanced Online Publication (May 1, 2026). https://izlik.org/JA59JK59JK.
JAMA
1.Çiftçi S, Özer S. Evaluating an education model via Pythagorean fuzzy AHP and decision tree. Int. J. Assess. Tools Educ. 2026. Available at https://izlik.org/JA59JK59JK.
MLA
Çiftçi, Sema, and Serpil Özer. “Evaluating an Education Model via Pythagorean Fuzzy AHP and Decision Tree”. International Journal of Assessment Tools in Education, no. Advanced Online Publication, May 2026, https://izlik.org/JA59JK59JK.
Vancouver
1.Sema Çiftçi, Serpil Özer. Evaluating an education model via Pythagorean fuzzy AHP and decision tree. Int. J. Assess. Tools Educ. [Internet]. 2026 May 1;(Advanced Online Publication). Available from: https://izlik.org/JA59JK59JK

23823             23825             23824