Cost analysis of the education of students in School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, using activity-based costing model
AUTHORS
Ali-Akbar Haghdoost
1
,
Marjan Amirimoghadam
2
,
Mahshid Loloei
3
,
Mohammad Reza Baneshi
4
,
Faezeh Sabbah
5
,
Mohammad Mehrolhassani
6
, *
1
PhD in Epidemiology , Professor of Epidemiology, Research Center for Modeling in Health, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Iran
2
Senior Researcher, Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Iran
3
MSc in Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Iran
4
PhD in Biostatistics, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Center for Regional Education of Health Care Systems (HIV/AIDS), Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Iran
5
BSc in Health Care Management, Medical Informatics Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, Iran
6
PhD in Health Care Management, Department of Management Policy and Health Economics, Health Service Management Research Centre, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Iran
How to Cite:
Haghdoost
A, Amirimoghadam
M , Loloei
M , Baneshi
M R, Sabbah
F , et al. Cost analysis of the education of students in School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, using activity-based costing model,
Strides Dev Med Educ.
2014
; 11(1):e60535.
ARTICLE INFORMATION
Strides in Development of Medical Education:
11 (1); e60535
Published Online:
May
31,
2014
Article Type:
Research Article
Received:
August
20,
2017
Accepted:
January
06,
2014
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Abstract
Background & Objective: Quantifying real costs in total and per student is one of the key objectives of budgeting in long-term plans for higher education sector; without any doubt, this will improve the performance of universities. However, the evidences and experiences in this regard are very limited within Iran. The purpose of this study was to estimate and analyze all costs of a school (as a model) compatible with activity-based costing in the logics of operating budgeting.
Methods: Having reviewed all available relevant documents of School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences in one academic year (2010-11), real costs were extracted and categorized. In the same time, all available facilities (classes, laboratories, library, computer rooms, and common rooms), human resources, students, and infrastructures of the school were surveyed. The cost data were grouped into five sections: training costs, research costs, administrative costs, current supportive costs, and maintenance/development costs.
Results: The total cost of School of Public Health was 24, 726 million Iranian Rial (IRR) consisted of 18,850 IRR for teaching costs, 1,894 IRR for research costs, 2,519 IRR for administrative costs and 1,463 IRR for maintenance and current costs. The total per student cost was 31.11 IRR. The total per postgraduate student cost was 2.5 times more than of undergraduate students.
Conclusion: A main part of the costs, particularly salaries, is out of hand of direct managers of the school. These costs are usually hidden, and are not presented in costs at the school level. It seems that fixed salary of academic staff inflated human costs, while it is suggested that with a better educational management, the system could increase their responsibilities, and improve their productivities. Our computation, as a model, may help medical universities around the country to create a clear picture of their costs in line with the rules of operating budgeting.
Keywords
Cost per student
educational costs
operating budget
economics of education
educational planning
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