Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effectiveness and efficiency in higher education

  • Published:
Higher Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The article begins from the basic concepts of efficiency and effectiveness in higher education. The author defines these terms, and their potential use, through a range of simple examples. Thereafter he develops an argument to suggest that it is important to distinguish between effectiveness and efficiency, and the measure for components of educational processes rather than attempt to identify global values which are descriptive of courses or departments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Heriot-Watt University, EH14 4A5, Riccarton, Edinburgh, UK

    John Cowan

Authors
  1. John Cowan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cowan, J. Effectiveness and efficiency in higher education. High Educ 14, 235–239 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00136107

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00136107

Keywords

Search

Navigation