Targeted Evaluation of Higher Education Institution Efficiency Based on a Digital Strategic Management Model and Systemic Integral Index

In the contemporary landscape of global higher education, the accelerating pace of digital transformation necessitates a paradigm shift from traditional intuition-driven administration to rigorous, metricsbased, and data-driven management models. This study explores the methodology for a comprehensive, multilayered, and systematic assessment of the strategic development potential of higher education institutions (HEIs) operating within dynamic socioeconomic environments. To bridge the gap between fragmented functional metrics and holistic institutional oversight, we develop a new mathematical-methodological framework designated as the Systemic Strategic Development Integral Index (SSDI). The SSDI compiles 15 highly specialized primary metrics structured across five fundamental institutional dimensions: Educational Quality (EQ), Scientific-Innovative Activity (SIA), Digital Maturity (DM), Financial Sustainability (FS), and External Cooperation (EC). To achieve a unified scalar metric from disparate units of measurement, a min-max linear normalization algorithm is combined with weight assignment protocols via the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The operational viability and empirical sensitivity of the model are validated through multi-scenario predictive forecasting models tracking index trajectories for the period 2026–2030 across five structurally diverse higher education institutions. The empirical simulations demonstrate that accelerating comprehensive digital interoperability—under an optimistic governance framework—can catalyze a 35% to 40% enhancement in net institutional efficiency. This index provides university boards, ministries of education, and executive leadership teams with a scalable diagnostic tool to locate systemic vulnerabilities, optimize resource allocation, and scientifically validate mid-to-long-term strategic pathways.