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Türkiye’deki Araştırma ve Aday Araştırma Üniversitelerinin Etkinliği ve Performansı Üzerine Bir Çalışma

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 3, 459 - 475, 01.12.2025

Abstract

Türkiye’deki araştırma ve aday araştırma üniversitelerinin etkinliklerinin analiz edilmesi, yükseköğretim politikalarının şekillenmesinde ve üniversitelere kaynakların stratejik olarak tahsis edilmesinde önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Üniversitelerin kaynaklarını ne kadar etkin kullandıkları, onların ulusal ve uluslararası düzeydeki rekabet güçlerini etkilemektedir. Bu kaynakların ne kadar etkin kullanıldığını değerlendirmek amacıyla bu çalışma, veri zarflama analizi (VZA) ile birlikte süper-etkinlik VZA modeli ve Malmquist toplam faktör verimliliği (MTFV) endeksini kullanarak Türkiye’deki araştırma ve aday araştırma üniversitelerinin 2017-2022 yılları arasındaki etkinliğini ölçmeyi hedeflemektedir. Sonrasında, süper-etkinlik VZA modelinden elde edilen etkinlik puanları, Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu (TÜBİTAK) tarafından açıklanan performans puanlarıyla birlikte etkinlik/performans diyagramı üzerinde analiz edilmektedir. Sonuçlar, doktora mezun ve yayın sayısındaki artışa bağlı olarak en verimli dönemin 2020-2021 olduğunu göstermektedir. Buna ek olarak, 2017-2022 yılları arasında araştırma ve aday araştırma üniversitelerinin verimliliğinin, büyük ölçüde teknolojik gelişmeler ve araştırma ve eğitimdeki ilerlemeler nedeniyle arttığı görülmektedir. Özellikle Sakarya Üniversitesi önümüzdeki yıllarda araştırma üniversitesi olma yolunda güçlü bir aday olarak ortaya çıkmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın hem üniversiteler hem de politika yapıcılar açısından bazı önemli sonuçları bulunmaktadır. Çalışmanın ortaya koyduğu bulguları kullanarak üniversiteler, kaynak kullanımında iyileştirmeye açık olan alanları belirleyebilir, politika yapıcılar ise Türkiye’deki araştırma odaklı üniversite ortamının gelişimini teşvik etmek için üniversite bütçelerini stratejik olarak tahsis edebilirler.

References

  • Agasisti, T., & Dal Bianco, A. (2006). Data envelopment analysis to the Italian university system: Theoretical issues and policy implications. International Journal of Business Performance Management, 8(4), 344-367. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBPM.2006.009613
  • Andersen, P., & Petersen, N. C. (1993). A procedure for ranking efficient units in data envelopment analysis. Management Science, 39(10), 1261-1264. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.39.10.1261
  • Arslan, A. E., & Guven, O, Z. (2018). A study on the determination of efficacy of universities: Turkey case. International journal of Afro-Eurasian Research, 3(6), 86-105.
  • Banker, R. D., Charnes, A., & Cooper, W. W. (1984). Some models for estimating technical and scale inefficiencies in data envelopment analysis. Management Science, 30(9), 1078-1092. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.30.9.1078
  • Berbegal-Mirabent, J., Lafuente, E., & Solé, F. (2013). The pursuit of knowledge transfer activities: An efficiency analysis of Spanish universities. Journal of Business Research, 66(10), 2051-2059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2013.02.031
  • Caves, D. W., Christensen, L. R., & Diewert, W. E. (1982). The economic theory of index numbers and the measurement of input, output, and productivity. Econometrica, 50(6), 1393-1414. https://doi.org/10.2307/1913388
  • Charnes, A., Cooper, W., & Rhodes, E. (1978). Measuring the efficiency of decision making units. Company European Journal of Operational Research, 2, 429-444. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/0377-2217(78)90138-8
  • CHE. (n.d.). Performance evaluation of research and candidate research universities from CHE. Retrieved from https://www.yok.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Haberler/2020/yok-ten-arastirma-ve-aday-arastirma-universiteleri-degerlendirilmesi.aspx (March 4, 2024).
  • CHE. (2020a). Üniversitelerde uygulanacak uzaktan eğitime ilişkin açıklama [Announcement regarding the implementation of distance education in universities]. Retrieved March 25, 2024 from https://www.yok.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Haberler/2020/universitelerde-uygulanacak-uzaktan-egitime-iliskin-aciklama.aspx
  • CHE. (2020b). YÖK erteleme ve kayıt dondurma hakkı [CHE right to postpone and freeze registration]. Retrieved March 25, 2024 from https://www.yok.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Haberler/2020/erteleme-ve-kayit-dondurma-hakki.aspx
  • CHE. (2021). Higher education system in Türkiye. Retrieved March 26, 2024 from https://www.yok.gov.tr/Documents/Yayinlar/Yayinlarimiz/2021/higher-education-system-in-turkey-2021.pdf
  • CHE. (2022). The Research University Support Program is being implemented. Retrieved March 19, 2024 from https://www.yok.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Haberler/2022/arastirma-universiteleri-destek-programi-devreye-giriyor.aspx
  • CHE. (2023). CHE has Included 6 universities in the Research University Candidate Monitoring Program. Retrieved March 19, 2024 from https://www.yok.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Haberler/2023/yuksekogretim-kurulu-6-universiteyi-arastirma-universitesi-aday-izleme-programina-aldi.aspx
  • Coelli, T. (1996). A Guide to DEAP version 2.1: A data envelopment analysis (computer) program. (CEPA Working Papers No. 8). University of New England. https://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~econ380/DEAP.PDF
  • Cooper, W. W., Seiford, L. M., & Zhu, J. (2011). Data envelopment analysis: History, models and interpretations. In W. Cooper, L. Seiford & J. Zhu (Eds.). Handbook on data envelopment analysis. International series in operations research & management science (pp. 1-39). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6151-8_1
  • Dogan, H. (2023). Measuring the efficiency of Turkish research universities via two-stage network DEA with shared inputs model. Journal on Efficiency and Responsibility in Education and Science, 16(4), 329-342. https://doi.org/10.7160/eriesj.2023.160406
  • Dogan, N. O., & Akbal, H. (2021). Impact of Covid-19 on the efficiency of academic incentive: A comparison of 2019 and 2020 using data envelopment analysis. Giresun University Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 7(3), 469-490. https://doi.org/10.46849/guiibd.1003444
  • Färe, R., Grosskopf, S., Norris, M., & Zhongyang Zhang. (1994). Productivity growth, technical progress, and efficiency change in industrialized countries. The American Economic Review, 84(1), 66-83. https://doi.org/https://www.jstor.org/stable/2117971
  • GAMS Development Corporation. (2024). GAMS-General Algebraic Modeling System. Version 45.7.0. Retrieved March 21, 2024 from https://www.gams.com
  • García-Aracil, A. (2013). Understanding productivity changes in public universities: Evidence from Spain. Research Evaluation, 22(5), 351-368. https://doi.org/10.1093/reseval/rvt009
  • Gunay, A., Dulupcu, M. A., & Oruc, K. O., (2017). Efficiency and productivity analysis of Turkish public universities: Applications of data envelopment analysis and Malmquist total factor productivity index. Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 17(3), 85-113.
  • Jiang, J., Lee, S. K., & Rah, M. J. (2020). Assessing the research efficiency of Chinese higher education institutions by data envelopment analysis. Asia Pacific Education Review, 21(3), 423-440. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-020-09634-0
  • Karadag, E., Ciftci, S. K., Gok, R., Su, A., et al. (2021). Distance education capacities of universities during the Covid-19 pandemic process. Journal of University Research, 4(1), 8-22. https://doi.org/10.32329/uad.874799
  • Karagoz, O., Kocakoc, İ., & Birecikli, S. (2020). Efficiency analysis of universities in Turkey: Focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation activities. İzmir Journal of Economics, 35(4), 713-723. https://doi.org/10.24988/ije.202035404
  • Kocak, E., & Orkcu, H. H. (2021). Measuring the efficiency of Turkish state universities based on a two-stage DEA model. Gazi University Journal of Science, 34(4), 1210-1220. https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.801115
  • Kumar, S., & Gulati, R. (2008). An examination of technical, pure technical, and scale efficiencies in Indian public sector banks using data envelopment analysis. Eurasian Journal of Business and Economics, 1(2), 33-69. https://doi.org/https://www.ejbe.org/index.php/EJBE/article/view/11
  • Malmquist, S. (1953). Index numbers and indifference surfaces. Trabajos de Estadistica, 4(2), 209-242. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03006863
  • Mammadov, R., & Aypay, A. (2020). Efficiency analysis of research universities in Turkey. International Journal of Educational Development, 75, 102-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2020.102176
  • Maral, M. (2023). Examination of research efficiency of research universities in Türkiye by data envelopment analysis. International Journal of Educational Management, 37(6–7), 1162-1176. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-04-2023-0194
  • Ministry of Industry and Technology. (2024). List of technology development zones. Retrieved March 26, 2024 from https://teknopark.sanayi.gov.tr/Home/TgbListesi
  • Parlar, H., & Kart, S. (2022). Investigation of academic motivation and publication performance of academics in the Covid-19 period. Journal of Higher Education and Science, 12(3), 519-536. https://doi.org/10.5961/higheredusci.1128593
  • Seiford, L. M., & Zhu, J. (1999). Infeasibility of super-efficiency data envelopment analysis models. Information Systems and Operational Research, 37(2), 174-187. https://doi.org/10.1080/03155986.1999.11732379
  • Telli, R. (2023). Determination of efficiency based on the quality process in state research universities in Turkey. Journal of University Research,6(3), 327-337. https://doi.org/10.32329/uad.1325816
  • Torre, E. M., Agasisti, T., & Perez-Esparrells, C. (2017). The relevance of knowledge transfer for universities’ efficiency scores: An empirical approximation on the Spanish public higher education system. Research Evaluation, 26(3), 211-229. https://doi.org/10.1093/reseval/rvx022
  • Turkan, S., & Ozel, G. (2017). Efficiency of state universities in Turkey during the 2014–2015 academic year and determination of factors affecting efficiency. Education and Science, 42(191), 307-322. https://doi.org/10.15390/EB.2017.6980
  • Xie, X., Siau, K., & Chen, C. (2023). Does more investment in universities improve their performances? A study on the performance of Chinese universities using data envelopment analysis. Journal of Global Information Management, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.4018/JGIM.320517
  • YBYS. (2023). Yükseköğretim bilgi yönetim sistemi. Retrieved March 15, 2024 from https://istatistik.yok.gov.tr/
  • YOKAK. (2023). Institution indicator reports. Retrieved March 20, 2024 from https://yokak.gov.tr/raporlar/kurum-gosterge-raporlari
  • Zheng, K. N., Zhou, L. Y., & Xu, Y. G. (2022). Research on digital transformation of enterprise human resource management based on DEA-Malmquist model. Proceedings of the 41st Chinese Control Conference, 7540-7545. https://doi.org/10.23919/CCC55666.2022.9901873

A Study on the Efficiency and Performance of Research and Candidate Research Universities in Türkiye

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 3, 459 - 475, 01.12.2025

Abstract

Analyzing the efficiency of research and candidate research universities in Türkiye plays a crucial role in shaping higher education policies and strategically allocating resources to universities. How efficiently universities utilize their resources impacts their competitive power at both national and international levels. To assess the efficiency of resource usage, this study aims to measure the efficiency of research and candidate research universities in Türkiye via data envelopment analysis (DEA) along with the super-efficiency DEA model and the Malmquist total factor productivity (TFP) index between 2017-2022. Subsequently, efficiency scores obtained from the super-efficiency DEA model were analyzed alongside performance scores announced by TÜBİTAK, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye, on an efficiency/performance diagram. The results show that the most efficient period was 2020-2021, attributed to an increase in the numbers of PhD graduates and publications. Moreover, the productivity of research and candidate research universities increased during 2017-2022 period mostly due to technological improvements and advancements in research and education. Notably, Sakarya University emerged as a strong candidate for becoming a research university in the upcoming years. This study has some important implications for both universities and the government. Utilizing the findings, universities can identify the areas for improvement in resource utilization, while the government can strategically allocate university budgets to foster the development of research-oriented university landscape in Türkiye.

References

  • Agasisti, T., & Dal Bianco, A. (2006). Data envelopment analysis to the Italian university system: Theoretical issues and policy implications. International Journal of Business Performance Management, 8(4), 344-367. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBPM.2006.009613
  • Andersen, P., & Petersen, N. C. (1993). A procedure for ranking efficient units in data envelopment analysis. Management Science, 39(10), 1261-1264. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.39.10.1261
  • Arslan, A. E., & Guven, O, Z. (2018). A study on the determination of efficacy of universities: Turkey case. International journal of Afro-Eurasian Research, 3(6), 86-105.
  • Banker, R. D., Charnes, A., & Cooper, W. W. (1984). Some models for estimating technical and scale inefficiencies in data envelopment analysis. Management Science, 30(9), 1078-1092. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.30.9.1078
  • Berbegal-Mirabent, J., Lafuente, E., & Solé, F. (2013). The pursuit of knowledge transfer activities: An efficiency analysis of Spanish universities. Journal of Business Research, 66(10), 2051-2059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2013.02.031
  • Caves, D. W., Christensen, L. R., & Diewert, W. E. (1982). The economic theory of index numbers and the measurement of input, output, and productivity. Econometrica, 50(6), 1393-1414. https://doi.org/10.2307/1913388
  • Charnes, A., Cooper, W., & Rhodes, E. (1978). Measuring the efficiency of decision making units. Company European Journal of Operational Research, 2, 429-444. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/0377-2217(78)90138-8
  • CHE. (n.d.). Performance evaluation of research and candidate research universities from CHE. Retrieved from https://www.yok.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Haberler/2020/yok-ten-arastirma-ve-aday-arastirma-universiteleri-degerlendirilmesi.aspx (March 4, 2024).
  • CHE. (2020a). Üniversitelerde uygulanacak uzaktan eğitime ilişkin açıklama [Announcement regarding the implementation of distance education in universities]. Retrieved March 25, 2024 from https://www.yok.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Haberler/2020/universitelerde-uygulanacak-uzaktan-egitime-iliskin-aciklama.aspx
  • CHE. (2020b). YÖK erteleme ve kayıt dondurma hakkı [CHE right to postpone and freeze registration]. Retrieved March 25, 2024 from https://www.yok.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Haberler/2020/erteleme-ve-kayit-dondurma-hakki.aspx
  • CHE. (2021). Higher education system in Türkiye. Retrieved March 26, 2024 from https://www.yok.gov.tr/Documents/Yayinlar/Yayinlarimiz/2021/higher-education-system-in-turkey-2021.pdf
  • CHE. (2022). The Research University Support Program is being implemented. Retrieved March 19, 2024 from https://www.yok.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Haberler/2022/arastirma-universiteleri-destek-programi-devreye-giriyor.aspx
  • CHE. (2023). CHE has Included 6 universities in the Research University Candidate Monitoring Program. Retrieved March 19, 2024 from https://www.yok.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Haberler/2023/yuksekogretim-kurulu-6-universiteyi-arastirma-universitesi-aday-izleme-programina-aldi.aspx
  • Coelli, T. (1996). A Guide to DEAP version 2.1: A data envelopment analysis (computer) program. (CEPA Working Papers No. 8). University of New England. https://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~econ380/DEAP.PDF
  • Cooper, W. W., Seiford, L. M., & Zhu, J. (2011). Data envelopment analysis: History, models and interpretations. In W. Cooper, L. Seiford & J. Zhu (Eds.). Handbook on data envelopment analysis. International series in operations research & management science (pp. 1-39). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6151-8_1
  • Dogan, H. (2023). Measuring the efficiency of Turkish research universities via two-stage network DEA with shared inputs model. Journal on Efficiency and Responsibility in Education and Science, 16(4), 329-342. https://doi.org/10.7160/eriesj.2023.160406
  • Dogan, N. O., & Akbal, H. (2021). Impact of Covid-19 on the efficiency of academic incentive: A comparison of 2019 and 2020 using data envelopment analysis. Giresun University Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 7(3), 469-490. https://doi.org/10.46849/guiibd.1003444
  • Färe, R., Grosskopf, S., Norris, M., & Zhongyang Zhang. (1994). Productivity growth, technical progress, and efficiency change in industrialized countries. The American Economic Review, 84(1), 66-83. https://doi.org/https://www.jstor.org/stable/2117971
  • GAMS Development Corporation. (2024). GAMS-General Algebraic Modeling System. Version 45.7.0. Retrieved March 21, 2024 from https://www.gams.com
  • García-Aracil, A. (2013). Understanding productivity changes in public universities: Evidence from Spain. Research Evaluation, 22(5), 351-368. https://doi.org/10.1093/reseval/rvt009
  • Gunay, A., Dulupcu, M. A., & Oruc, K. O., (2017). Efficiency and productivity analysis of Turkish public universities: Applications of data envelopment analysis and Malmquist total factor productivity index. Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 17(3), 85-113.
  • Jiang, J., Lee, S. K., & Rah, M. J. (2020). Assessing the research efficiency of Chinese higher education institutions by data envelopment analysis. Asia Pacific Education Review, 21(3), 423-440. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-020-09634-0
  • Karadag, E., Ciftci, S. K., Gok, R., Su, A., et al. (2021). Distance education capacities of universities during the Covid-19 pandemic process. Journal of University Research, 4(1), 8-22. https://doi.org/10.32329/uad.874799
  • Karagoz, O., Kocakoc, İ., & Birecikli, S. (2020). Efficiency analysis of universities in Turkey: Focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation activities. İzmir Journal of Economics, 35(4), 713-723. https://doi.org/10.24988/ije.202035404
  • Kocak, E., & Orkcu, H. H. (2021). Measuring the efficiency of Turkish state universities based on a two-stage DEA model. Gazi University Journal of Science, 34(4), 1210-1220. https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.801115
  • Kumar, S., & Gulati, R. (2008). An examination of technical, pure technical, and scale efficiencies in Indian public sector banks using data envelopment analysis. Eurasian Journal of Business and Economics, 1(2), 33-69. https://doi.org/https://www.ejbe.org/index.php/EJBE/article/view/11
  • Malmquist, S. (1953). Index numbers and indifference surfaces. Trabajos de Estadistica, 4(2), 209-242. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03006863
  • Mammadov, R., & Aypay, A. (2020). Efficiency analysis of research universities in Turkey. International Journal of Educational Development, 75, 102-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2020.102176
  • Maral, M. (2023). Examination of research efficiency of research universities in Türkiye by data envelopment analysis. International Journal of Educational Management, 37(6–7), 1162-1176. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-04-2023-0194
  • Ministry of Industry and Technology. (2024). List of technology development zones. Retrieved March 26, 2024 from https://teknopark.sanayi.gov.tr/Home/TgbListesi
  • Parlar, H., & Kart, S. (2022). Investigation of academic motivation and publication performance of academics in the Covid-19 period. Journal of Higher Education and Science, 12(3), 519-536. https://doi.org/10.5961/higheredusci.1128593
  • Seiford, L. M., & Zhu, J. (1999). Infeasibility of super-efficiency data envelopment analysis models. Information Systems and Operational Research, 37(2), 174-187. https://doi.org/10.1080/03155986.1999.11732379
  • Telli, R. (2023). Determination of efficiency based on the quality process in state research universities in Turkey. Journal of University Research,6(3), 327-337. https://doi.org/10.32329/uad.1325816
  • Torre, E. M., Agasisti, T., & Perez-Esparrells, C. (2017). The relevance of knowledge transfer for universities’ efficiency scores: An empirical approximation on the Spanish public higher education system. Research Evaluation, 26(3), 211-229. https://doi.org/10.1093/reseval/rvx022
  • Turkan, S., & Ozel, G. (2017). Efficiency of state universities in Turkey during the 2014–2015 academic year and determination of factors affecting efficiency. Education and Science, 42(191), 307-322. https://doi.org/10.15390/EB.2017.6980
  • Xie, X., Siau, K., & Chen, C. (2023). Does more investment in universities improve their performances? A study on the performance of Chinese universities using data envelopment analysis. Journal of Global Information Management, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.4018/JGIM.320517
  • YBYS. (2023). Yükseköğretim bilgi yönetim sistemi. Retrieved March 15, 2024 from https://istatistik.yok.gov.tr/
  • YOKAK. (2023). Institution indicator reports. Retrieved March 20, 2024 from https://yokak.gov.tr/raporlar/kurum-gosterge-raporlari
  • Zheng, K. N., Zhou, L. Y., & Xu, Y. G. (2022). Research on digital transformation of enterprise human resource management based on DEA-Malmquist model. Proceedings of the 41st Chinese Control Conference, 7540-7545. https://doi.org/10.23919/CCC55666.2022.9901873
There are 39 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Higher Education Studies (Other)
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Mutlu Önen 0000-0001-5974-6649

Gülşah Karakaya 0000-0001-9061-103X

Publication Date December 1, 2025
Submission Date June 3, 2024
Acceptance Date January 1, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 15 Issue: 3

Cite

APA Önen, M., & Karakaya, G. (2025). A Study on the Efficiency and Performance of Research and Candidate Research Universities in Türkiye. Yükseköğretim Dergisi, 15(3), 459-475. https://doi.org/10.53478/yuksekogretim.1494886

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