ACADEMIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY: EVIDENCE FROM HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

The accelerating growth of the global higher education market and ongoing digital transformation have increased the importance of effective academic activity management in universities. Ensuring a balance between teaching workload, research productivity, and financial sustainability has become a key factor in improving institutional competitiveness and management efficiency. This study evaluates the current state of academic governance and measures management effectiveness using quantitative and system-based approaches. Using empirical data from Tashkent State University of Economics for 2019–2025, the research analyzes student enrollment, faculty workload, contract revenues, and research outputs indexed in Scopus. An elasticity coefficient is applied to assess the relationship between revenue growth and enrollment expansion, while correlation and balance analyses identify the optimal academic workload. The results show that management efficiency improves when financial growth corresponds proportionally to student increases. Excessive teaching loads reduce research productivity, whereas normalized workloads enhance publication performance. The optimal workload range of 526–540 hours per faculty member ensures both financial stability and scientific activity. The proposed framework offers practical guidance for improving academic governance and sustainable development in higher education institutions.