IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i8p4312-d535092.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sustainable Higher Education Reform Quality Assessment Using SWOT Analysis with Integration of AHP and Entropy Models: A Case Study of Morocco

Author

Listed:
  • Asma Fahim

    (College of Economics & Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China)

  • Qingmei Tan

    (College of Economics & Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China)

  • Bushra Naz

    (Department of Computer Systems Engineering, Mehran University of engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh 76062, Pakistan)

  • Qurat ul Ain

    (Amazon Corporate Headquarters, Seattle, WA 98109, USA)

  • Sibghat Ullah Bazai

    (Department of Computer Engineering, BUITEMS Quetta, Balochistan 87300, Pakistan)

Abstract

Sustainable development goals (SDG) involve not only environmental issues but also economic, social, and cultural concerns. Higher education plays a key role in promoting sustainable development initiatives and in empowering people to change their thinking and to strive for a sustainable future. However, the main issue that needs to be presently resolved is how leaders, teachers, and students in higher education can achieve sustainable development in their system vision, mission and values, strategic plans, and organizational culture. Morocco is a country with a long history of higher education and has continuous reforms for sustainable development. In the process of responding to the wave of globalization, the Moroccan government has begun to formulate a higher education reform plan to maintain its competitiveness and achieve the SDG standards. Therefore, this study is focused on the quality of the higher education system through which the sustainability of higher education reform can be implemented. With this in mind, an organized approach that involved a questionnaire using the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) decision-making model with integration of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Entropy method was developed. The questionnaires were filled out by the experts, staff, and students of the higher education system (universities) to obtain the important key factors for the SWOT analysis. The AHP was used for the qualitative analysis of the weights of the SWOT factors, while the Entropy method was applied for the objective analysis of the number of different weight attributes. After integration of AHP with Entropy, the finalized variables were ranked; these results are more reliable and realistic to decision-makers. Finally, the SWOT matrix was established based on the questionnaire assessment and the AHP with Entropy weights to help implement the higher education reform policy and to monitor the quality of the current education system. The results also indicate that higher education reform must incorporate many changes, including effective budget planning, skilled experts, internationalization, improved and expanded infrastructure, reformed study curriculum, and latest training.

Suggested Citation

  • Asma Fahim & Qingmei Tan & Bushra Naz & Qurat ul Ain & Sibghat Ullah Bazai, 2021. "Sustainable Higher Education Reform Quality Assessment Using SWOT Analysis with Integration of AHP and Entropy Models: A Case Study of Morocco," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:8:p:4312-:d:535092
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/8/4312/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/8/4312/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mohammad Muzahidul Islam & Laizu Akter & A.K.M Kanak Pervez & Md. Nur Nabi & Md Momin Uddin & Zakaria Arifin, 2020. "Application of Combined SWOT and AHP for Strategy Development: Evidence from Pottery Industry of Bangladesh," Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 10(1), pages 81-94.
    2. Barak, Sasan & Javanmard, Shima, 2020. "Outsourcing modelling using a novel interval-valued fuzzy quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM) and multiple criteria decision-making (MCDMs)," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    3. repec:srs:journl:jarle:v:9:y:2018:i:2:p:761-766 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Ivana Semanjski & Sidharta Gautama, 2019. "A Collaborative Stakeholder Decision-Making Approach for Sustainable Urban Logistics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, January.
    5. Sergei PELEVIN & Baktibek TAUBAEV & Yerazak TILEUBERGENOV & Aleksei VASILIEV, 2018. "The Participation of Youth of Western Countries in Political Life of the Society The Youth in the Political Life of the Society," Journal of Advanced Research in Law and Economics, ASERS Publishing, vol. 9(2), pages 761-766.
    6. Andrii Shekhovtsov & Volodymyr Kozlov & Viktor Nosov & Wojciech Sałabun, 2020. "Efficiency of Methods for Determining the Relevance of Criteria in Sustainable Transport Problems: A Comparative Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-23, September.
    7. Hamed Gholami & Mohamad Faizal Bachok & Muhamad Zameri Mat Saman & Dalia Streimikiene & Safian Sharif & Norhayati Zakuan, 2020. "An ISM Approach for the Barrier Analysis in Implementing Green Campus Operations: Towards Higher Education Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-19, January.
    8. I. G. Dezhina & T. N. Nafikova, 2019. "Tuition Fees as a Source of Funding and a Policy Instrument: International Experience," University Management: Practice and Analysis, Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education «Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N.Yeltsin»; Non-Commercial Partnership “University Management: Practice and, vol. 23(5).
    9. Rodrigo Lozano & Michelle Y. Merrill & Kaisu Sammalisto & Kim Ceulemans & Francisco J. Lozano, 2017. "Connecting Competences and Pedagogical Approaches for Sustainable Development in Higher Education: A Literature Review and Framework Proposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-15, October.
    10. Min Wang & Xianli Zhao & Qunxi Gong & Zhigeng Ji, 2019. "Measurement of Regional Green Economy Sustainable Development Ability Based on Entropy Weight-Topsis-Coupling Coordination Degree—A Case Study in Shandong Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, January.
    11. Andrew Bieler & Marcia McKenzie, 2017. "Strategic Planning for Sustainability in Canadian Higher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-22, January.
    12. Hamed Taherdoost, 2017. "Decision Making Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP); A Step by Step Approach," Post-Print hal-02557320, HAL.
    13. Fernandes, João Paulo, 2019. "Developing viable, adjustable strategies for planning and management—A methodological approach," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 563-572.
    14. Etongo, Daniel & Kanninen, Markku & Epule, Terence Epule & Fobissie, Kalame, 2018. "Assessing the effectiveness of joint forest management in Southern Burkina Faso: A SWOT-AHP analysis," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 31-38.
    15. Saaty, Thomas L., 1990. "How to make a decision: The analytic hierarchy process," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 9-26, September.
    16. Claudio Baudino & Nicole Roberta Giuggioli & Rossella Briano & Stefano Massaglia & Cristiana Peano, 2017. "Integrated Methodologies (SWOT, TOWS, LCA) for Improving Production Chains and Environmental Sustainability of Kiwifruit and Baby Kiwi in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-18, September.
    17. Kumari, Anita & Kumar Sharma, Anil, 2017. "Infrastructure financing and development: A bibliometric review," International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, Elsevier, vol. 16(C), pages 49-65.
    18. Mohammad Muzahidul Islam & Laizu Akter & A.K.M. Kanak Pervez & Md. Nur Nabi & Md. Momin Uddin & Zakaria Arifin, 2020. "Application of combined SWOT and AHP for strategy development: evidence from pottery industry of Bangladesh," Asian Journal of Agriculture and rural Development, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 10(1), pages 81-94, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jasmina Saric & Fabian Käser & Jon-Andri Lys & Jürg Utzinger & Thomas Breu, 2021. "Synergising Research and Service Activities at Swiss Research Institutions to Accelerate Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Jasmina Saric & Thomas Breu & Gilbert Fokou & Salome‐Joëlle Gass & Boniface Kiteme & Honorati Masanja & Jürg Utzinger & Gete Zeleke & Fabian Käser, 2023. "Research−implementation organisations and their role for sustainable development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(3), pages 1401-1416, June.
    3. Yongli Wang & Xiangyi Zhou & Hao Liu & Xichang Chen & Zixin Yan & Dexin Li & Chang Liu & Jiarui Wang, 2023. "Evaluation of the Maturity of Urban Energy Internet Development Based on AHP-Entropy Weight Method and Improved TOPSIS," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-18, July.
    4. Zhaorui Wang & Zuwang Chu, 2023. "Examination of Higher Education Teachers’ Self-Perception of Digital Competence, Self-Efficacy, and Facilitating Conditions: An Empirical Study in the Context of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-22, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Çağlar Kıvanç Kaymaz & Salih Birinci & Yusuf Kızılkan, 2022. "Sustainable development goals assessment of Erzurum province with SWOT-AHP analysis," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 2986-3012, March.
    2. Mohtar Rasyid & Anita Kristina & Sutikno & Sunaryati & Tutik Yuliani, 2020. "Poverty Conditions and Patterns of Consumption: An Engel Function Analysis in East Java and Bali, Indonesia," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 10(10), pages 1062-1076, October.
    3. Mohammadi, Kamran, 2023. "Improved strategy management for WDNs: Integrated prioritization SWOT QSPM (IPSQ) method – Application to passive defense," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    4. Jacqueline Bailão da Silva Lopes & Thiago Almeida Vieira, 2021. "Sustainable University: From the Worldwide Conception to the Brazilian Amazonia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-31, September.
    5. Ernest Baba Ali & Ephraim Bonah Agyekum & Parise Adadi, 2021. "Agriculture for Sustainable Development: A SWOT-AHP Assessment of Ghana’s Planting for Food and Jobs Initiative," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-24, January.
    6. Flavio Martins & Maria Fatima Almeida & Rodrigo Calili & Agatha Oliveira, 2020. "Design Thinking Applied to Smart Home Projects: A User-Centric and Sustainable Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-27, December.
    7. Irene Blanco-Gutiérrez & Consuelo Varela-Ortega & Rhys Manners, 2020. "Evaluating Animal-Based Foods and Plant-Based Alternatives Using Multi-Criteria and SWOT Analyses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-26, October.
    8. Jochen Wulf, 2020. "Development of an AHP hierarchy for managing omnichannel capabilities: a design science research approach," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 13(1), pages 39-68, April.
    9. Wu, Zhangsheng & Li, Yue & Wang, Rong & Xu, Xu & Ren, Dongyang & Huang, Quanzhong & Xiong, Yunwu & Huang, Guanhua, 2023. "Evaluation of irrigation water saving and salinity control practices of maize and sunflower in the upper Yellow River basin with an agro-hydrological model based method," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    10. Juan Guillermo Urzúa-Morales & Juan Pedro Sepulveda-Rojas & Miguel Alfaro & Guillermo Fuertes & Rodrigo Ternero & Manuel Vargas, 2020. "Logistic Modeling of the Last Mile: Case Study Santiago, Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.
    11. Simone Blanc & Stefano Massaglia & Filippo Brun & Cristiana Peano & Angela Mosso & Nicole Roberta Giuggioli, 2019. "Use of Bio-Based Plastics in the Fruit Supply Chain: An Integrated Approach to Assess Environmental, Economic, and Social Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-18, April.
    12. D’Inverno, Giovanna & Carosi, Laura & Romano, Giulia & Guerrini, Andrea, 2018. "Water pollution in wastewater treatment plants: An efficiency analysis with undesirable output," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 269(1), pages 24-34.
    13. Rocío Valderrama-Hernández & Fermín Sánchez-Carracedo & Lucía Alcántara Rubio & Dolores Limón-Domínguez, 2019. "Methodology to Analyze the Effectiveness of ESD in a Higher Degree in Education. A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-27, December.
    14. Nermin Kişi, 2019. "A Strategic Approach to Sustainable Tourism Development Using the A’WOT Hybrid Method: A Case Study of Zonguldak, Turkey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, February.
    15. Pathiraja, Erandathie & Griffith, Garry & Farquharson, Robert & Faggia, Rob, 2019. "The Cost of Climate Change to Agricultural Industries: Coconuts in Sri Lanka," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 10(05), December.
    16. Ayodele, T.R. & Ogunjuyigbe, A.S.O. & Odigie, O. & Munda, J.L., 2018. "A multi-criteria GIS based model for wind farm site selection using interval type-2 fuzzy analytic hierarchy process: The case study of Nigeria," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 1853-1869.
    17. V. Srinivasan & G. Shainesh & Anand K. Sharma, 2015. "An approach to prioritize customer-based, cost-effective service enhancements," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(14), pages 747-762, October.
    18. Filip Škultéty & Dominika Beňová & Jozef Gnap, 2021. "City Logistics as an Imperative Smart City Mechanism: Scrutiny of Clustered EU27 Capitals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, March.
    19. Jia Peng & Xianli Hu & Xinyue Fan & Kai Wang & Hao Gong, 2023. "The Impact of the Green Economy on Carbon Emission Intensity: Comparisons, Challenges, and Mitigating Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-21, July.
    20. Patricija Bajec & Danijela Tuljak-Suban, 2019. "An Integrated Analytic Hierarchy Process—Slack Based Measure-Data Envelopment Analysis Model for Evaluating the Efficiency of Logistics Service Providers Considering Undesirable Performance Criteria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-18, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:8:p:4312-:d:535092. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.