DESIGNING A THREE-LEVEL KPI FRAMEWORK FOR RANKING-ORIENTED UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE: INTEGRATING DIGITAL MONITORING AND RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21944294Abstract
University ranking systems have encouraged higher education institutions to adopt a wide
range of strategic measures; however, the operational governance mechanisms needed to translate ranking
methodologies into institutional management practices require further specification. This study presents an
integrated governance framework comprising three components: a three-level key performance indicator
(KPI) system aligned with the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings methodology
at the university, faculty, and department levels; a Digital Ranking Dashboard (DRD) platform for real-time
performance monitoring; and an evidence-based resource allocation model designed to optimize investment
in ranking strategies. The framework was developed through an analysis of New Uzbekistan University’s
institutional management system, benchmarking against four globally successful young universities, and
economic modelling of investment requirements. The KPI system comprises 10 indicators mapped to the
five THE ranking pillars, with clearly defined units of measurement, responsible departments, and monitoring
frequencies. The DRD platform integrates six functional modules: scientific publications, citation tracking,
international engagement, grant monitoring, a faculty-level KPI tracker, and budget–indicator linkages. It is
proposed as a localized alternative to commercial platforms such as THE DataPoints and the QS Insight Suite.
The resource allocation model distributes an estimated annual investment of USD 2.0–2.5 million across five
strategic priorities: research quality (35%), international outlook (28%), research infrastructure (20%), digital
monitoring (10%), and global branding (7%). The framework is complemented by an economic risk assessment
covering five categories: macroeconomic, institutional and financial, operational, technological, and behavioral
risks. The study contributes to the literature on higher education governance by demonstrating how ranking
methodologies can be operationalized through actionable institutional management systems for emerging
universities
Keywords
KPI system, university rankings, digital dashboard, resource allocation, higher education governance, quality assurance, THE methodologyReferences
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