QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY IN HIGHER EDUCATION: ASSESSING THE PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED TURKISH UNIVERSITIES USING THE SLACK-BASED MEASURE DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS

This study aims to analyze the performance of Turkey’s leading universities on a global scale, specifically in terms of resource management, academic output, and strategic effectiveness. The analysis focuses on 16 Turkish universities—Ankara University, Atatürk University, Atılım University, Bilkent University, Boğaziçi University, Ege University, Gazi University, Gebze Technical University, Hacettepe University, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul University, Koç University, Middle East Technical University, Sabancı University, and TOBB University of Economics and Technology—which ranked in the top 1000 globally between 2020 and 2023. To evaluate the efficiency of these universities, the study employs the Slack-Based Measure (SBM) Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model, focusing on input variables such as the number of professors, associate professors, and assistant professors, and output variables like the number of publications and projects. An output-oriented model with variable returns to scale is used, centering on the academic output of these institutions.In the study's second phase, additional structural and functional factors that may influence university efficiency are analyzed in depth. These factors include the number of lecturers (x_1), number of research assistants (x_2), number of administrative staff (x_3), number of undergraduate students (x_4), number of master’s students (x_5), and number of doctoral students (x_6). Panel data analysis is applied to test the impact of these variables on efficiency, with the Lagrange Multiplier Test, F-Test, and Hausman Test used to determine the significance of each university's individual and temporal effects. The findings indicate that both the academic and administrative staffing structures, as well as student demographics, play a crucial role in shaping the efficiency levels of these institutions.This study provides Turkish universities with insights to boost their international competitiveness and offers strategic guidance for decision-making processes. The analysis results offer actionable recommendations for improving the sustainable quality of higher education, focusing on effective resource utilization, policy development, and enhanced academic performance, thereby supporting greater efficiency in Turkey's higher education system.