Evaluating management performance and challenges in Ecuadorian online education

María Gabriela  Carpio Carpio; Wilson Geovanny Morquecho Vintimilla

doi:10.46652/rgn.v10i47.1543

María Gabriela Carpio Carpio Universidad Católica de Cuenca | Cuenca | Ecuador
Wilson Geovanny Morquecho Vintimilla Investigador independiente | Cuenca | Ecuador

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46652/rgn.v10i47.1543

Palabras clave: Education Management; Digital transformation; Higher Education Institutions-HEIs.

Resumen

This research responds to a diagnostic gap concerning management performance in Ecuadorian online higher education. It evaluates an academic unit of a private HEI in Cuenca. The objective is the assess critical issues such as sustainable planning, pedagogical innovation, quality assurance (integrity) and student engagement. Afterward, a literature review contextualizes global trends in different regions including Southeast Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Ecuador. The methodology employs a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, triangulating qualitative content analysis with a quantitative maturity model, a financial review (2021-2023), and enrollment contingency tables. Findings indicate a "Defined Level" of management maturity (3,62/5,0), reflecting established processes but unoptimized. Financial analysis demonstrated resilient profitability (13,11%) after an initial decrease, while a targeted pricing strategy increased new student enrollment probability by 76,73%. These results contribute with direct evidence for the necessity of optimizing technology-related processes to advance from established procedures to data-managed operations.

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Biografía del autor/a

María Gabriela Carpio Carpio, Universidad Católica de Cuenca | Cuenca | Ecuador

Master in Marketing and Market Research from the University of Valencia and currently pursuing a Master's in Neuromarketing at the International University of La Rioja (UNIR). She serves as a faculty member in the online Marketing and Market Intelligence program at the Catholic University of Cuenca.

Wilson Geovanny Morquecho Vintimilla, Investigador independiente | Cuenca | Ecuador

MBA for Executives from the International University of La Rioja, with a specialization in Digital Transformation. Consultant for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). Specialized in management, circular business models, and project proposals considering ecosystem-based adaptations and sustainable finance. Member of the Global Rectoral Board Community.

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