Operational variables referring to specific measurable characteristics of higher education institutions or programmes on which evidence can be collected that allows for a determination of whether or not standards are being met. There are: (i) indicators of economy (following and respecting budgets); (ii) indicators of efficiency (e.g. actual productivity or output per input unit); and (iii) indicators of effectiveness (degree of attainment of objectives). Another distinction is made between: (i) context indicators, that relate to the specific environment of a higher education institution or programme (social, economic, political, geographical, etc.); (ii) input indicators, that relate to the logistical, human, and financial resources used by a higher education institution; (iii) process indicators, that refer to the use of resources by a higher education institution, to the management of the inputs, and to the functioning of the organization; and (iv) output indicators, that concern the actual achievements or products of the higher education institution.