{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,11]],"date-time":"2026-02-11T15:04:31Z","timestamp":1770822271673,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,11]],"date-time":"2026-02-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770768000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"NECE"},{"name":"FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e Tecnologia","award":["UID\/04630\/2025"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/04630\/2025"]}]},{"name":"FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e Tecnologia","award":["CEEC-INST\/00016\/2021\/CP2828\/CT0005"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CEEC-INST\/00016\/2021\/CP2828\/CT0005"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Trends in Higher Education"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In this study, an innovative prospective analysis approach is applied to support the characterisation of strategic performance measures in higher education institutions (HEIs) and to assess their efficiency. To achieve this objective, relevant input and output indicators identified in the literature are systematised and then validated through a field study involving semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and practitioners. Subsequently, a cross-impact matrix is developed, and a prospective analysis is performed using the MICMAC method (Matrix of Cross-Impact Multiplications Applied to Classification). This process enables the identification of the most influential input and output factors shaping the performance of Portuguese HEIs. The resulting strategic input\u2013output prospective map highlights that future strategies should prioritise inputs related to research and development (R&amp;D), the sociocultural environment of HEIs, and internationalisation, particularly in relation to global student mobility. The analysis further shows that outputs associated with regional human capital development and sociocultural dynamics play a critical role, especially through the strengthening of partnerships with regional authorities, municipalities, and companies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/higheredu5010018","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,11]],"date-time":"2026-02-11T13:25:49Z","timestamp":1770816349000},"page":"18","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Towards More Effective Strategic Performance and Efficiency Measures in Portuguese Public Higher Education"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"5","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9829-8703","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eug\u00e9nia","family":"Pedro","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"NECE\u2013Research Centre for Business Sciences, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-209 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5192-2310","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Helena","family":"Alves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"NECE\u2013Research Centre for Business Sciences, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-209 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6229-6148","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jo\u00e3o","family":"Leit\u00e3o","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"NECE\u2013Research Centre for Business Sciences, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-209 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"CEG IST\u2013Center for Management Studies of the Higher Technical Institute, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"ICS\u2013Institute of Social Sciences, Universidade de Lisboa, 1600-189 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8074-7168","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marta Pereira","family":"Alves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"NECE\u2013Research Centre for Business Sciences, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-209 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6213-5355","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"M\u00e1rio","family":"Raposo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"NECE\u2013Research Centre for Business Sciences, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-209 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4774-2397","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria de Lourdes","family":"Machado-Taylor","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CeEID\u2013Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Education and Development, Lus\u00f3fona University, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"CIPES\u2013Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies, 4450-227 Matosinhos, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2217-7822","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luisa","family":"Cerdeira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UIEDF\u2013Unidade de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o e Desenvolvimento em Educa\u00e7\u00e3o e Forma\u00e7\u00e3o, Instituto de Educa\u00e7\u00e3o, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-013 Lisboa, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"501","DOI":"10.1007\/s11024-019-09377-2","article-title":"The Rationalization of Korean Universities","volume":"57","author":"Kim","year":"2019","journal-title":"Minerva"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sharifi, N., Amiri, M., Olfat, L., Yousefli, A., Hashemi-Tabatabaei, M., and Zohrehvandi, S. 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