Educational Quality and Student Satisfaction in Private Universities of Cartagena de Indias: A Multivariable Analysis
Abstract
Educational quality in Colombia's private higher education system is a key determinant of student
satisfaction and, consequently, of retention, academic performance, and institutional projection. This
article analyzes the relationship between six educational quality variables —teaching competence,
infrastructure and technological resources, administrative management, university welfare, teaching-
learning methodologies, and labor market linkage— and the level of student satisfaction in three private
universities in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Using a quantitative, non-experimental cross-sectional
design, a validated instrument was applied to 387 active undergraduate students. Results reveal positive and statistically significant correlations between all quality dimensions and overall satisfaction, with
teaching competence as the most robust predictor (r = 0.74; p < .001) followed by teaching-learning
methodologies (r = 0.68). Multiple regression analysis explains 71.3% of the variance in student satisfaction.
Specific institutional gaps in technological infrastructure and labor market linkage are identified as strategic
improvement opportunities. The findings provide local empirical evidence for institutional decision-making
and quality assurance policy design in the Colombian Caribbean context.
References
Intelligence & Planning, 24(1), 31–47.
Acevedo, D., Torres, J. D., & Tirado, D. F. (2020). Análisis de la deserción estudiantil en programas de
ingeniería de la Universidad de Cartagena. Formación Universitaria, 13(4), 103–114.
Alves, H., & Raposo, M. (2007). Conceptual model of student satisfaction in higher education. Total
Quality Management & Business Excellence, 18(5), 571–588.
Arrieta, M., & De la Hoz, A. (2019). Desigualdad socioeconómica y acceso a la educación superior en
Cartagena de Indias. Economía del Caribe, 14(1), 44–72.
Basilaia, G., & Kvavadze, D. (2020). Transition to online education in schools during a SARS-CoV-2
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Georgia. Pedagogical Research, 5(4), em0060.
Bedoya, E., & Giraldo, L. (2020). Factores asociados a la satisfacción estudiantil en instituciones de
educación superior colombianas. Revista de Pedagogía Universitaria, 25(1), 35–54.
Biggs, J., & Tang, C. (2011). Teaching for quality learning at university (4th ed.). Open University Press.
Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Cárdenas, M., & Álvarez, A. (2022). Cobertura y calidad en la educación superior colombiana: tensiones y
desafíos para la política pública. Revista Colombiana de Educación, 85, 1–24.
Castellar, C., & Morales, J. (2021). Pertinencia laboral de los programas académicos en Cartagena:
percepción de empleadores y egresados. Panorama Económico, 29(1), 47–66.
Centra, J. A., & Gaubatz, N. B. (2000). Is there gender bias in student evaluations of teaching? Journal of
Higher Education, 71(1), 17–33.
Claro, M., Preiss, D. D., San Martín, E., Jara, I., Hinostroza, J. E., Valenzuela, S., & Nussbaum, M. (2011).
Assessment of 21st century ICT skills in Chile. Computers & Education, 59(3), 1042–1053.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th
ed.). SAGE.
Cronin, J. J., & Taylor, S. A. (1994). SERVPERF versus SERVQUAL: Reconciling performance-based and
perceptions-minus-expectations measurement of service quality. Journal of Marketing, 58(1),
125–131.
DANE. (2022). Encuesta de Calidad de Vida 2022: resultados para Cartagena de Indias. Departamento
Administrativo Nacional de Estadística.
Díaz-Barriga, F., & Hernández, G. (2010). Estrategias docentes para un aprendizaje significativo: una
interpretación constructivista (3a ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Elliot, K. M., & Healy, M. A. (2001). Key factors influencing student satisfaction related to recruitment and
retention. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 10(4), 1–11.
Feldman, K. A. (1997). Identifying exemplary teachers and teaching: Evidence from student ratings. En R.
P. Perry & J. C. Smart (Eds.), Effective teaching in higher education (pp. 368–395). Agathon
Press.
Fenstermacher, G. D., & Richardson, V. (2005). On making determinations of quality in teaching.
Teachers College Record, 107(1), 186–213.
Field, A. (2018). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th ed.). SAGE.
