FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF SMALL GROUPS AS A MANIFESTATION OF STRUCTURAL DISPROPORTIONS IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

Анотація

The relevance of the study is determined by the need to rethink the financial and economic mechanisms of the higher education system in the context of demographic decline, labour market transformation and growing resource constraints. The formation of small academic groups, which is increasingly observed in higher education institutions, is not only an organisational problem, but also a manifestation of deeper structural imbalances that affect the efficient use of budget funds, the quality of educational services and the strategic stability of the education system. The purpose of this article is to identify the financial and economic consequences of small academic groups, their impact on the cost structure of educational programmes, and to justify approaches to optimising the resource provision of higher education. The methodological basis of the study consists of elements of economic analysis, comparative cost assessment, structural-functional approach, and modelling of management decision scenarios. Methods of quantitative analysis of statistical data, logical-structural generalisation, and expert assessment of the impact of small groups on the financial efficiency of the educational process were applied. The study found that the presence of small groups leads to an increase in per capita costs per student, reduces the economic feasibility of educational programmes, complicates staffing planning, and creates risks for the sustainable development of educational institutions. It was found that disparities in group sizes have not only a quantitative but also a qualitative dimension, as they affect academic interaction, the motivation of participants in the educational process, and the institutional reputation of higher education institutions. The practical value of the article lies in formulating approaches to adapting financial models taking into account economies of scale, developing recommendations for optimising the structure of educational programmes, and justifying management decisions aimed at improving the economic efficiency of higher education institutions in the context of structural changes.

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