Hybrid management of material and financial support in Cuban higher education institutions

Abstract

In the current context of economic constraints, Cuban higher education institutions face the challenge of optimizing their resources through innovative management strategies that ensure the quality and sustainability of their processes. One such strategy is hybrid management (direct management and outsourcing) in the process of material and financial support. This research aims to determine the current status of the implementation of hybrid management in material and financial support within higher education institutions. Methods such as analysis and synthesis, inductive and historical approaches, document review, interviews, and questionnaires were used. The sample included 25 higher education institutions. Data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, focusing on outsourcing patterns, suppliers, and institutional projections.  As a result of applying these instruments, it was found that all higher education institutions employ a hybrid model in the management of material and financial support, where outsourcing is used to address operational deficiencies. An increase in collaboration with the non-state sector as the main service provider was also observed. Although an increase in outsourcing is projected for the coming years, its current reactive approach—responding to material limitations—remains unchanged. It is concluded that Cuban higher education institutions face several challenges in improving the hybrid management of material and financial support, including reorienting the use of outsourcing toward a proactive approach.