The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, have significantly progressed in higher education reform programmes. However, challenges remain, such as a lack of uniformity in assessment, different norms for degree recognition, a shortage of regionally relevant…

Purpose: This study aims to analyse and evaluate the methodology followed by the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (THE-IR), as well as the coverage obtained and the data offered by this ranking, to determine if its methodology reflects the degree of sustainability of universities, and whether their results are accurate enough to be used as a…

Purpose: Performance evaluation is a topic that has been researched and practiced extensively in business organizations but has received scant attention in higher education institutions. A review of literature revealed that context, input, process, product (CIPP) model is an appropriate performance evaluation model for higher education…

A discussion of how staff evaluation can keep pace with objective-based teaching and learning. (HB)

Describes a methodology for allocating limited research funds to individual research proposals through the use of a goal-programming approach. Presents an example using hypothetical data, which illustrates the use of the model, particularly its sensitivity to different priority weighting schemes. (Author/JG)

A general context for defining and using goals in institutional research is discussed, contributions of authors in this journal issue are reviewed, and implications for research are examined. (Author/LBH)

Management by objectives (MBO) is a participative, flexible and highly effective system that keeps administrators on target. (Editor)

The Minnesota Test of Critical Thinking-II (MTCT) has been designed to measure both critical thinking (CT) skills and the willingness to evaluate critically arguments that are congruent with one's own goals and beliefs. The MTCT uses a taxonomy of CT skills derived from the American Philosophical Association's definition of critical thinking.…

A discussion of administrative program evaluation addresses the problem and opportunity of evaluation from the perspective of the administrator or institutional researcher by suggesting criteria for deciding on the need for formal evaluation, examining several evaluation design strategies, and looking at how evaluation can enhance organizational…

Computerized think tanks can reach decisions more efficiently than the standard committee meeting method. (Editor)

Assessment is analyzed using the conceptualization of educational evaluation. Ten questions provide the framework for this analysis: the meaning of assessment, purpose of assessment, criteria to judge the merit or worth of what has been assessed, who should be served by assessment, etc. (MLW)

The pooled judgements of evaluators and users of evaluations on eight panels examining eight simulated evaluation situations in higher education were analyzed. Choices regarding evaluation phases and tactics were found to be dependent on evaluation goals (wether the evaluation has a formative or summative purpose) and contextual variables.…

A model of a system to evaluate administrators at the American University is presented. Evaluation objectives, program design criteria, the role of committees and supervisors, evaluation procedures, general policies, administrators subject to the policy, and an example of how this procedure would apply to specific cases are discussed. (MLW)

This article discusses the development and field test of an instrument, A Survey of Student Personnel Objectives, that can be used to evaluate whether a college or university's student personnel program is achieving its objectives. (Author)

The purpose of this handbook is to encourage and assist women's studies directors and faculty to perform or obtain evaluations of their programs in order to assist in their decision making needs, and to know how, when, and to what ends program evaluation can be used. Evaluation is defined and described. Five major approaches are listed:…