EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS PERFORMANCE RANKING BY USE OF TOPSIS METHOD

Abstract

Evaluation of an educational program is a complex task and its solution requires the analysis of data obtained on the basis of relevant to both quantitative and qualitative research. The collection of these data should be carried out using properly developed key performance indicators. The paper shows that such a task can be successfully solved using the TOPSIS method of multi-criteria decision analysis well known in information systems theory. The evaluation criteria can be positive or negative. The higher the rating value for a positive criterion, the better the alternative decision, while for the negative criterion the smaller the corresponding rating value, the better the alternative. The TOPSIS method is based on the concept that the best solution among the available alternatives is the one that has the minimum distance from the positive ideal solution and, at the same time, the maximum distance from the negative ideal solution. The paper presents both positive and negative criteria developed to evaluate the performance of educational programs. For the data relevant to the above criteria there are used the appropriate data of the four higher educational programs of Gori State Teaching University. Using the TOPSIS method the rating evaluation of the programs was carried out. The paper indicates that in the same way it is possible to assess the performance of one of the educational programs using data obtained at different intervals in relation to this program, and thereby determine the degree of success or failure of the program by comparing the results.