An analytic network process for university selection in engineering discipline

Abstract

This research applies analytic network process (ANP) to the problem of university selection decisions. The research focuses on a system of university evaluation in student perspective. A decision support model is developed to help the potential students select the most appropriate university according to their own preference. The research framework begins with selecting the decision criteria influencing the university selection decision through a series of interviews and questionnaires. The target groups are those who have experience for selecting university in both types of admission system, those in the process of deciding to select the universities, those who are the counselling professional, and experts in curriculum design and in related studies with educational field. After that the experts in education who are involved in implementing curriculum will consider the definition of the decision criteria, the criteria grouping, the determination of relationship and the dependencies and the influences of set of criteria and primary membership of sub-criteria. All data are then collected for analysis and evaluation using a computer program of the ANP. The analysis and evaluation of results reveal that the control sub-criteria influencing the quota applicants with respect to the control criteria of Benefits, Costs and Risks consist of Intellectual Benefits, Economic Costs and Risks respectively. According to the control sub-criteria of Intellectual Benefits, the sub-criteria of value added, library spending and computer availability are the three most important, in that order. According to the control criteria of Benefits, Costs and Risks, the control sub-criteria influencing entrance applicants comprise the Social Benefits, Costs and Risks respectively. Also, considering Social Benefits reveals that the sub-criteria of entry points (total average admission score), student-faculty ratio and computer availability are the three most important, in that order. In addition, the results of overall sensitivity analysis, control sub-criteria level, for the quota admission system show that Intellectual Benefits and Economic Costs are the highest sensitive in changing the alternatives, where as the entrance admission system reveals that the control sub¬criteria of Economic Benefits and Social Costs are the most sensitive in changing the alternatives. Not only ANP shows the result of analysis but also it facilitates the sensitivity analysis enabling more in-depth understanding than merely obtaining the results. Furthermore, this research demonstrates that using only AHP may be insufficient since the characteristics of problem is related the interdependencies between pairs of decision criteria, therefore, ANP is technique that should be further developed in the future.