Prioritization of Factors Impacting Lecturer Research Productivity Using an Improved Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach

Improving the scientific research productivity of lecturers is an important strategy contributing to improving the reputation of universities, attracting external funding sources, and improving the credibility of both domestic and international students. This study was carried out with the aim of determining the priority of the university’s governance factors that affect lecturers’ scientific research productivity. Six university governance factors were considered, including (i) research objectives and strategies, (ii) decentralization, (iii) leadership, (iv) support for research activities, (v) policy towards lecturers, and (vi) resources for research activities. In this study, an improved analytic hierarchy process method using generalized triangular fuzzy numbers and a centroid index was proposed. The research data were collected via in-depth interviews with experts and administrators at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU). The results indicate that “resources for research activities” constitute the most important factor affecting the research productivity of lecturers at VNU, followed by research objectives and strategies and leadership.