Abstract:

The assessment of quality and performance in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is a multifaceted task, which needs a holistic approach that encompasses various dimensions. This article focuses on the role of some management accounting indicators, namely, the relevance of both financial and non-financial indicators when evaluating the quality and performance of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). In today's era of globalization, higher education institutions (HEIs) continually grapple with ongoing challenges. Competitive landscapes are increasingly taking shape across various markets, elevating the creation of value and financial sustainability as critical objectives within their purview. HEIs' performance has undergone significant transformation, given that these educational establishments are now compelled to seek alternative funding sources, aligning more closely with the characteristics of a competitive market. As such, HEIs aspiring to establish a strong presence in these markets must direct their attention toward strategic objectives that ensure financial sustainability, much like organizations in other sectors. For this purpose, HEIs must develop an in-depth understanding of their business processes, adopting a management approach that allows them to assess their quality and performance, both at the national and international levels. These institutions aim to bolster their competitiveness by implementing management strategies centered on quality and financial sustainability. These strategies incorporate performance measurement systems encompassing a wide array of financial and non-financial metrics. The literature highlights the advantages of non-financial performance measures, emphasizing their particular focus on long-term perspectives, which contribute to enhanced organizational performance. Such measures facilitate comprehension of the interplay between various strategic objectives, enhance communication between employee actions and defined goals, and aid in resource allocation and priority setting relative to those objectives.

Regarding the methodology, the data were obtained through an online survey developed by the authors to evaluate the different dimensions of the proposed research model, using for this purpose a sample of convenience constituted by members of the management boards of Portuguese universities and polytechnics. In the treatment of quantitative data, a structural equation model (SEM) was used through the SPSS software (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), to investigate the possible relationships between the different dimensions incorporated in the model. The main conclusions of the study, considering the conceptions of the respondents, point towards that the use of financial indicators significantly improves the financial performance of HEIs (B=0.199, p=0.006) and, on the other hand, the use of non-financial indicators significantly improves the operational (B=0.487,p <0.001), financial (B=0.265,p <0.001) and market (B=0.479, p <0.001) performance of HEIs.

Keywords:

Higher Education, Management Accounting, Financial Indicators, Non-financial Indicators, Quality.