Keyword: Malmquist productivity index

ABSTRACT: This study evaluates the efficiency of STEM departments at a Zimbabwean university using Data Envelopment Analysis and the Malmquist Productivity Index. Guided by Education 5.0 and persistent resource constraints, the analysis assesses performance using inputs (staff, budgets, programmes, teaching assistants) and outputs (graduates, publications, citations, grants). Overall efficiency improved from 24% in 2023 to 45% in 2024. Sensitivity tests show that programme offerings and graduate output are the strongest drivers of efficiency, while slack analysis highlights opportunities to optimise resource utilisation. Benchmarking identifies DMU14 and DMU33 as top performers that can serve as models for weaker departments. Unlike much of the global literature, this study emphasises resource reallocation rather than frontier shifts, reflecting the realities of low-funding environments. Recommendations include targeted budget adjustments, structured benchmarking, and policy measures to address STEM-specific costs. The findings support evidence-based decision-making and advance methodological debates on DEA in resource-constrained settings.