In this work, we illustrate the application of a wide variety of Operations/operational research (OR) tools in higher education through three case studies based on practical applications conducted in the Engineering School of the Universidad de Antioquia. These case studies focus, respectively, on capacity planning, resource allocation, and performance measurement. In the first case study, we model and predict the flow of students enrolled in the industrial engineering program through the new curriculum using system dynamics and algebraic modeling of dropout rates, finding the number of sections for the courses, and the corresponding number of faculty positions needed to support the program structure. The second case study is a course covering model for the new curriculum that considers preferences and capacities of the teaching staff in an integer programming model, to find the uncovered courses of the new curriculum. Finally, the third case study presents a data envelopment analysis tool currently used to evaluate and rank the faculty of the Engineering School according to their teaching performance. The case studies presented in this work showcase how helpful OR tools are to rationalize the decision-making process in higher education institutions.
BackgroundCar reliance is the most costly transport mode because of its negative externalities. The city administration in Mexico City (CDMX) has tried to solve traffic by increasing roads to prioritise motorised vehicles, thus, inducing traffic. Only 24% population drives cars, the rest walk, cycle or use public transport. Hence, there is an urgent appeal and grants for walkability and making infrastructure improvements to protect pedestrians to reduce risk of road traffic injuries.MethodsPublic space has been studied from different theoretical perspectives. Revised literature has not related Health Promotion to public space. The epistemological and pragmatic approaches of public space have led to reach the materiality of pedestrian infrastructure as healthy public space. ResultsSince 2009, I targeted efforts to produce healthy public space by detecting a case study aimed to regenerate a long sidewalk, with 45 years of decay that runs along an urban high-way. This potential footpath belongs to the second most populated borough in CDMX with 1.2 million, but mostly is the daily walkway of 1,200 students because their school is embraced by this public space. Once identified and brought in the authorities for this case study, the people’s involvement (the students) pursued a safe community that leads healthy lives within their surrounding. The government accountability represents central and local administration. In 2010 central government issued to the local borough officials the technical guidelines and the monetary quote for restoring the sidewalk, but local officials disregarded them. In 2011, we obtained the funds at the CDMX Legislative Assembly, but the public work (2012–2013) resulted in a poor executed pedestrian infrastructure that remains unsafe so far.ConclusionsCentral and local governments are ultimately accountable to their people for the health consequences of their actions. People should encourage the potential for producing and promoting healthy public spaces on the recognition of a fundamental human right and sound social investment.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.