Higher education institutions and, particularly, polytechnic institutes in Portugal are, generally speaking, recognized as the key stakeholders in regional development. However, due to the economic recession of recent years and the consequent budget constraints, higher education institutions more than ever need to demonstrate the social and cultural impact of their activities within their communities and their contribution to its economic development. The aim of this paper is to estimate the economic impact of a group of polytechnic institutes located in regions with diverse socio-economic characteristics using a common methodology. This common framework enables a comparative study and a better identification of the variables that differentiate the different regions, the respective polytechnics and their impacts.

The paper reports findings of a research project aimed at developing insight into student participation in the governance of higher education institutions. The project was carried out in two institutions in Portugal, analyzing numbers and forms of participation, identifying facilitators and constraints to participation, and analyzing the students’ perceptions of their own participation. The study was carried out in the context of the European purpose of creating a cohesive European Higher Education Area (EHEA), and in light of theoretical perspectives of the sociology of public action. The concept of participation put forward by the Council of Europe in 2003 was mobilized in the sense that true participation involves making a difference in decision-making. The research objectives required both quantitative and qualitative data collection; therefore, a mixed-methods approach was adopted, including document analysis, interviews, and a questionnaire. The cross-analysis of the data collected enabled the researchers to characterize the participation of students in formal governing bodies and in other institutional contexts, identify facilitators and constraints to participation resulting either from the legal framework, the institutional culture, or personal contexts, and simultaneously capture individual perceptions of participation on the part of the students. The results enabled the authors to make a set of recommendations for political action both at national and institutional levels.

This study aims to distinguish the Quality Assurance Effectiveness (QAE) and the performance of public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), analysing the individual and combined effects of QAE on institutional performance. The originality of this study lies in three main aspects: first, it investigates the current state of QAE and HEIs performance, filling a gap in the literature by comparing them between public and private institutions; second, it addresses the lack of evidence on QAE as a predictor of HEIs performance, exploring its impact from the perspectives of faculty members; third, it applies Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to data collected from Portuguese higher education institutions, revealing significant differences between public and private institutions in both Quality Assurance Effectiveness (QAE) and performance outcomes. The results indicate that management support, faculty engagement, and infrastructure quality are key factors for QAE, positively impacting the performance of HEIs, particularly in research and teaching/learning areas. This study contributes to the literature by providing quantitative evidence on the relationship between QAE and institutional performance. The findings also highlight that the adoption of quality practices by HEIs is influenced by external pressures and the need for legitimacy, as described by the neo-institutional theory. Management implications include strengthening leadership, consolidating quality culture, investing in infrastructure, and promoting faculty development.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to study the evaluation and control processes in the governance systems of higher education institutions (HEIs). Design/methodology/approach: This study compares the performance and control processes of strategic management in four HEIs in two European countries with binary systems – Portugal and The Netherlands. Using a case study approach, the authors find that HEIs with different missions and contexts have performance and control systems that are generally indistinguishable. Findings: The controlling strategies in the public HEIs have taken on isomorphic characteristics based on processes that enhance competition, decentralize functions and solidify performance management. Originality/value: In this paper, the authors “unpackage” strategic management to focus on the forms of control associated with performance evaluation. Performance evaluation is central to the management process and increasingly assuming an integral part of the institution’s identity and culture.