Human and Information Interaction

Designing E-Government Development Indicators in Universities and Higher Education Institutions: A Localized and Practical Approach

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Sara Heydarian 1
Mohammad Hadi Zahedi 2
Amir Asghari 3
Narges Jafari 4

1 M.Sc. in Artificial Intelligence, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran. Email: std_heydarian@alumni.khu.ac.ir

2 Corresponding Author, Assistant Professor, Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Industrial Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. Email: zahedi@kntu.ac.ir

3 Associate Professor, Data Science and Technology Department, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Email: s.a.asghari@ut.ac.ir

4 M.Sc. in Computer Engineering and Information Technology, Department of Computer Engineering and Information Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. Email: na_jafari@msrt.ir

Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to formulate a set of indigenous indicators that align with global standards while addressing the specific needs of Iran’s higher education sector and contributing to the improvement of electronic service quality in this domain.

Method: To achieve the study's objective, a multi-phase approach was employed. Initially, both process-based and general models of e-government were comprehensively reviewed and analyzed. General models were selected due to their breadth and flexibility in evaluating university services. Subsequently, eight general e-government models from the period 2022 to 2024 were examined, leading to the identification of the United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI) as the optimal framework. The 2024 EGDI report was structurally analyzed to extract its key indicators and adapt them to the local Iranian context. To ensure alignment with Iran’s governance requirements, a set of national policy documents was reviewed. This step ensured that the developed indicator framework was not only consistent with international standards but also compliant with Iran’s legal and regulatory needs.

Findings: The findings from this comparative analysis facilitated the selection of a model tailored to the local context and the specific requirements of higher education, thereby providing a suitable foundation for leveraging international experiences and innovative approaches in developing academic e-government. Based on the 2024 UN report and the analysis of Iran’s status within it, existing challenges and deficiencies were identified and used as the foundation for indicator design. Ultimately, leveraging the conceptual framework of the EGDI model and referencing national strategic documents, the final structure was developed, comprising four major indicators and 62 components.

Conclusion: The study resulted in the identification of a model that not only aligns with global standards but is also adaptable to the unique needs of Iran’s higher education sector. The proposed model enables precise and consistent evaluation of electronic services, portals, and platforms while being attuned to Iran's local conditions. Future research can focus on validating these indicators and expanding their application to other educational domains.

Keywords

E-Government
Smart Higher Education
University E-Services
Process Models
EGDI Model
UN E-Government Development Index
digital transformation
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Human and Information Interaction
Volume 12, Issue 3
Autumn 2025
Pages 23-48