Main factors influencing the digital transparency in higher education institutions

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the online transparency of Spanish higher education institutions and examine the factors that explain the degree of online transparency achieved by these institutions. To this end, this paper analyses the institutional websites of all Spanish universities and develops a global transparency index comprising of four dimensions (“E-information”, “E-Services”, “E-Participation” and “Navigability, Design and Accessibility”). This paper evidences that Spanish universities are aware of the importance of having a web page with adequate navigability, design and accessibility. In contrast, the “E-information” is the least valued dimension, particularly concerning the disclosure about Community services and Outcomes of teaching services. Moreover, the results show that internationality, leverage and size positively affect the online transparency in Spanish universities. From a practical point of view, our findings could be used by university’ managers, regulators and standard-setting bodies to improve the online transparency in universities.