Impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Higher Education in Brazil: Longitudinal Analysis Using Data Envelopment Analysis

Rita de Fátima  Muniz; Sheila Maria  Muniz; Wagner Bandeira  Andriola; Antônio Clécio Fontelles  Thomaz; Habib Alijani

doi:10.31181/sa202563

Authors

Rita de Fátima Muniz Municipal Department of Education of Jijoca de Jericoacoara, CE, Brazil. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0267-7552
Sheila Maria Muniz Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4210-1497
Wagner Bandeira Andriola Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6459-0992
Antônio Clécio Fontelles Thomaz State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4263-4194
Habib Alijani Department of research center, Shiroud Municipality, Mazandaran, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9339-5732

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31181/sa202563

Keywords:

Impacts of the pandemic, Data envelopment analysis, Longitudinal research, Federal University of Ceará

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on Higher Education in Brazil. To this end, the Academic Units of the Federal University of Ceará (UFC) were taken as a sample, which consistof Campuses, Centers, Faculties and Institutes, with a total of 17 Decision Making Units (DMUs).The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology was applied, in BCC modeling, output oriented.Ex-ante (2018-2019) and ex-post-facto (2020-2021) longitudinal research showed a subtle increase in the relative efficiency of the units analyzed in 2020. On the other hand, in the first semester of 2021, marked by the replacement of face-to-face classes with online classes, the relative efficiency of these units fell considerably, but rose again in the following semester (2021.2). It was evident that although the relative efficiency of these units fell during the period in which the social distancing measures imposed by Covid-19 in Brazil intensified, the UFC managed to adapt to the pandemic period, with its Academic Units showing a considerable recovery in terms of their productive efficiency.

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