A combination of FDM, EWM, and GRA to measure performance in higher vocational college: An empirical case from China

Given the problems of unclear division of evaluation factors, inadequate utilization of objective data and unreasonable distribution of weight in college performance measurement, this study extracts relevant indicators and quantitative data from the survey report of administrational institutions, and constructs a comprehensive performance measurement model based on the integration of fuzzy Delphi method (FDM), Entropy weight method (EWM), and grey relational analysis (GRA). The study seeks to identify differences in measurement analysis by comparing the weights, the performance and the rankings of the alternatives about higher vocational colleges in Zhejiang province. Finally, the results show the following: (1) by FDM, 33 indicators about colleges' performance are selected to form the evaluation system of the college’s performance, (2) the indicators' weights are obtained through EWM and GRA, and a nonparametric test shows that there is no significant difference between the two types of weights, (3) the grey relational degrees of the alternatives are obtained and ranked on the basis of comprehensive evaluation model. By nonparametric test, there is a significant difference between the two types of relational degrees. On the contrary, no significant difference is found in the ranking of relational degrees, (4) based on the analysis results, this study further compares the performance of alternatives in different forms. There are significant differences between the performance of public colleges and private colleges, while no significant differences are observed between the performance of vocational colleges in Hangzhou and non-Hangzhou. Given the reliability and validity of the model, the comprehensive measurement model provides a relatively objective reference for college governance and administrational institutions, and also becomes an effective tool of colleges' evaluation to assist and improve the management practice in educational institutions.