A categorisation of research performance of Chilean universities based on university corporate governance attributes

Purpose University research is crucial for societal development, particularly in developing countries, where universities are the primary generators of knowledge. Understanding how to enhance research performance in academic institutions is essential, and some theories suggest that corporate governance characteristics can affect organisational outcomes. Thus, this study aims to classify the research performance of Chilean universities based on the attributes of their university corporate governance (UCG) during the decade 2010–2019. The analysis examines the production of scientific articles indexed in the Web of Science (WOS) per full-time PhD academic across 43 Chilean universities. Design/methodology/approach This work adopts a quantitative approach. Data on research output were sourced from the National Council of Education of Chile, while UCG attributes were derived from an analysis of each university's statutes. A regression tree analysis was employed to categorise university performance. This method enables the construction of predictive models based on available data. One advantage of this method is that it does not require assumptions of normality. Through the nodes of the regression tree, universities were grouped according to shared characteristics and similar research performance, as predicted by this technique. In addition, non-parametric tests were applied to validate that there are significant differences in research performance between the groups or nodes generated by this technique. Findings Four UCG attributes were analysed, but only the number and diversity of UCG members were found to be significant. Based on these two factors, universities were classified into three groups. Additionally, significant differences between the five-year periods were also observed, revealing a consistent increase in research performance across the Chilean higher education system. Originality/value The findings suggest that corporate governance attributes play a crucial role in influencing the performance of organisations, in this case, university research performance. Consequently, public policies should consider these attributes when designing university support and regulatory frameworks.