The present article proposes the use of the Main Components Analysis as quantitative methodology to aid the process of self-evaluation in higher education institutions. This methodology was applied in the self-evaluation of the Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), in 2005, using as data collecting instrument two questionnaires with 39 questions, applied to undergraduate students and teachers, containing a continuous scale of zero to ten. The results for the students showed the existence of seven principal components, where the main component is the teachers' human aspect. The teachers' results showed the existence of four components, being the main one related to the students. The methodology used was shown efficient to reach the objectives drawn by the administrators of the Institution.
Self-Evaluation; Higher Education; Main Component Analysis
