The efficiency of South African universities: a study based on the analytical review technique

This article examines the relative efficiency of ten South African universities between 1994 and 1997 based on the analytical review technique. This is supplemented by results from Data Envelopment Analysis. Three groups of universities B titled relatively efficient, relatively inefficient and least efficient B are identified. Some of the important factors likely to influence relative efficiency are then examined, specifically effects arising from student population dimensions, the quality and deployment of personnel resources and allocation of recurrent expenditures. The possibility of differences in the quality of graduates is examined. The article concludes with a presentation of benchmarks of "best practice" for the university sector. South African Journal of Higher Education Vol.16(2) 2002: 183-19