How to measure university performance and improve education quality: KPI4HE project results presented at YSU

YSU hosted the final dissemination conference of the project "Establishment of National Framework of Key Performance Indicators for Good Governance and Quality towards Inclusive, Digital and Green Oriented Higher Education in Armenia" (KPI4HE), implemented under the European Union's Erasmus+ program.

The central premise of the project is that university development should be based not only on setting strategic goals but also on measuring, analyzing and evaluating the results of their implementation.

Welcoming conference participants, YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan emphasized that effective university governance in a rapidly changing world requires decisions based on reliable data and measurable performance indicators.

According to the rector, the KPI4HE project provides an important opportunity to develop new approaches to governance, strategic planning and quality assurance in Armenia's higher education system.

He noted that coordinating the project, which brings together 12 partners, had been both a responsibility for YSU and an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Armenian and European institutions.

"The real value of the project lies in the sustainable use of its results. The next important step is to ensure that the National Framework of Key Performance Indicators and the tools developed continue to guide university strategies, improve decision-making and contribute to the long-term development of higher education in Armenia," Hovhannisyan stressed.

The rector also addressed the potential application of the indicators in new university funding mechanisms, highlighting the link between governance effectiveness and funding.

Vassilis Maragos, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, discussed the significance of the project in the context of Armenia-EU cooperation and the development of a higher education system aligned with European standards.

He emphasized that developing common standards and assessment tools will not only improve higher education governance but also strengthen trust between institutions.

The ambassador highlighted the importance of joint efforts by Armenian and European partners, noting that the project's results should continue to be applied beyond its official completion.

What will the National Framework of Key Performance Indicators change?

One of the conference's central topics was the development of Armenia's National Framework of Key Performance Indicators for Higher Education (NF-KPI).

Lilit Mkrtchyan, Acting Chair of Armenia's Higher Education and Science Committee, outlined the main directions of higher education reform, emphasizing that assessing how well modern universities perform requires specific measurable outcomes and data analysis. 

She explained that the draft national framework developed under the KPI4HE project envisages assessing university performance across six main areas: training qualified professionals; national and international engagement; research, development and innovation; equal opportunities; learning environment and quality; and governance, leadership and operational efficiency.

This approach makes it possible to assess university performance as an interconnected system, considering not only educational outcomes but also research capacity, international cooperation, inclusiveness and governance effectiveness.

For example, analyzing graduate employment rates can reveal how well academic programs meet labor market demands. The proportion of digitalized courses can help assess a university's progress in digital development, while analyzing energy consumption data can provide insights into the efficiency of resource management.

Mkrtchyan also highlighted the importance of linking the national framework of indicators to future mechanisms for institutional funding of universities. At the same time, she stressed the need to consider the specific characteristics of universities with different missions and academic specializations when assessing their performance.

According to Mkrtchyan, key next steps include agreeing on indicator definitions and calculation methods, identifying data sources, building staff capacity, and piloting the approaches.

"Measure what matters; use the results to achieve real improvements," Mkrtchyan said, summarising the fundamental principle of data-driven governance.

From data collection to new culture of governance

The conference paid particular attention to how performance indicators could become tools for universities' day-to-day management and quality assurance.

Ruben Topchyan, Director of the National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance, emphasized that the approaches being developed under the project can contribute to establishing a new culture of quality assessment in Armenia.

According to Topchyan, the application of indicators requires not only the availability of data but also appropriate measurement methodologies and interpretation. The same indicator may have different implications depending on the characteristics of an academic program and its specific context.

Topchyan noted that data-driven assessment should complement accreditation, self-evaluation and expert assessment mechanisms, and ensure more informed decision-making.

Mariana Sargsyan, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Armenia, also highlighted the project's multifaceted impact, emphasizing that it brings together institutional development, national priorities and European cooperation.

In her assessment, one of KPI4HE's distinguishing features is its simultaneous focus on three important areas of higher education: inclusiveness, digital transformation and the green transition.

Ensuring continued use of project results

The work carried out under KPI4HE focuses not only on developing a national framework of indicators but also on strengthening universities' institutional research and strategic planning capacities.

The project envisages training specialists, developing mechanisms for data collection and analysis, establishing a dedicated digital platform, and improving university performance assessment and accreditation criteria.

These tools will enable universities to assess their performance more effectively, identify development priorities and make data-driven management decisions.

The project is coordinated by YSU in cooperation with Armenian and European partners, including the University of Oldenburg and TU Dresden in Germany and the University of Genoa in Italy.

Conference participants stressed the importance of ensuring that the approaches and tools developed under the project continue to be applied after its completion, contributing to greater efficiency, competitiveness and quality across Armenia's higher education system.

The principal outcome of KPI4HE should be reflected not only in the introduction of new indicators and assessment mechanisms but also in the practical changes they bring about within universities, from improving academic programs to managing resources more efficiently.