Every university has its own strategy which is a kind of roadmap to success of university. The most important points about the university’s
strategy planning are: a well-established and effectively operating budget
system, an accordance with national higher education
policy and participation of students. However, the last point has always received little public attention. In my opinion, it is primarily connected with the opinion, that students come to university to study and this is their major duty. Although I agree with that studying is our major goal at university, I support more active involvement of students in university management, and in particular, in forming the university strategy.
In my opinion, if students took part in the
planning process that would strongly affect the university’s strategy. I also
believe that this effect would be highly positive. First of all, all major efforts
of university management and staff are centered around students. Students are
the “final product” of university. Consequently, students are also the face of
our university. They will become members of society upon graduation and they
will become university’s representatives in future. Therefore, students should
reflect the best of university’s ideals and they are, in fact, those, who will
be responsible for implementation of university’s goals. Loyal and bright
students can enormously contribute to the implementation process of the university’s goals. If students took part in the planning of the university
strategy, they would feel the strategy deep in their hearts and they would also
feel more responsibility as graduates and future country leaders at all
levels.
Therefore, I
believe, that partcipation in forming the university's startegy is a good opportunity to give real voice to students and by doing this, to take into account their vision of own university. This is very important because every university exists for students, and it is one of the major components of university.
I would argue with you. How does often university make a strategic plan? I think ones in a decade. The process of strategic planning is very complex and time-consuming. According to Hitt, Ireland and Middlemist (2005), institutional strategy is “the major plan of action for achieving the long-term objectives of the entire organization” (p. 433). The point is that strategy focuses on wide objectives rather than individual and the aim is to set long-term goals. Yes, students are the core of the intuitions, but their staying at the university often does not exceed four years. How can they be involved in the strategic planning if they know almost nothing about institution’s inner structure and its main values? Students can only give their perspectives on different issues, but they cannot be directly involved in the writing a strategic plan. Senior managers and faculty staff who are experts in their fields and who have an extensive vision of university’s development direction must be involved in the strategic planning.
ReplyDeleteThank your for the post you written! I totally support your idea.
ReplyDeleteI think that today students are involved in everything they are related with: education at school or university. Personally, I would say that students' involvement in decision making process at HEIs has a good impact on their Universities' rating and their social lives. When I was a student, I used to be a Student Dean of my Faculty. Once in 6 months we (all Student Deans)had informal meetings with our Rector in order to discuss some issues concerning students' lives, studies and so on. Interestingly, our voice mattered for him. Thanks to these meetings we really could make a difference. So, I believe that students are powerful to change something.
Saule, thank you for your interesting post. I think the idea of students’ involvement to strategic planning process is very interesting and meaningful. As Hayward, Ncayiyana and Johnson (2003) point out “successful strategic planning is inclusive, allowing every major stakeholder – management, teaching and research staff, support staff, students, the council, and other interested parties and stakeholders – an opportunity to participate” (p. 22). They talk about “successful” planning and every “major” stakeholder that means that they accept students as one of the essential participants in process of successful planning. If students were involved in strategic planning process, my additional goal would be “Advance students’ committee by enhancing collaboration with academic and administrative staff”. I mean, that members of committee will cooperate more closely with teachers and leaders not as students who ask an advice but also who can contribute to the successful development of university. How? Maybe, by participating in different research programs and important meetings of the university, conducting research, participating in the recruitment process, controlling students’ life in the dormitory. In conclusion, we used to behave with our students as children; most of them do not clear understand their role in university life. We have to give them a chance to feel that their opinion is considered and they will become more mature and responsible.
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