Strategic Planning in Higher Education

The optimal strategic team typically consists of between 10 and 12 members, as according to professional guidelines, this is considered the ideal size for effective decision-making and ensuring diversity of perspectives [20]. Some sources mention 7 as the optimal number, others 9–15, some 10–15, and some 7–12 or 7±2.

It is important to include stakeholders from the academic, administrative, and student communities, as well as external experts if needed. This approach enhances the benefits of teamwork — a wider range of expertise, greater legitimacy of the developed strategic plan (which leads to easier acceptance and stronger motivation during implementation), and a higher level of creativity that can result in more innovative solutions.

Recommended competencies for strategic planning in higher education:

The role of the team leader is crucial. Selecting a person with experience, expertise, and strong communication and organizational skills is one of the key principles for building an effective team. Principles for forming strategic planning teams [1, 37–38]:

Example:

The strategic team at the University of Jyväskylä (Finland) includes members of the university management, faculty representatives, the student parliament, and external stakeholders. The university’s 2030 strategy is publicly available and includes a clear stakeholder engagement plan. [39]