Development of guidelines for ensuring the well-being of employees and students of higher education institutions

One of the excellent examples of guidelines was developed by The Open University under the title Student and Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020–2023: Promoting a Whole Institution Approach.

Strategic Planning

Characteristics of strategic planning:

• systematically focused on goal realisation and the productivity of actions;
• includes choosing priorities, which involves making decisions about strategic goals and resources;
• responds to the circumstances of a dynamic, turbulent environment;
• means building the commitment of all stakeholders in the same process. 
  
  

Determining strategic areas is a key step in the strategic planning process. Strategic areas represent thematic units or focuses on which areas the organisation will concentrate to achieve its vision and mission. Once strategic areas are defined, they serve as a framework for setting concrete strategic goals. Goals should be aligned with strategic areas and contribute to their achievement.

Given the theme of guidelines for ensuring the well-being of employees and students of higher education institutions, mental health and psychological support would be an excellent example of a strategic area. Mental health is a fundamental aspect of an individual's overall well-being. Ensuring support in this area directly contributes to a happier, healthier, and more productive academic environment.

Strategic Goals

Strategic goals are desired states or outcomes and represent what the organisation wants and plans to achieve in a certain period. They are focused on results and are followed by activities. Strategic goals are defined based on identified strategic issues and represent the central element of the strategic planning process.

Figure 10. SMART Goals Diagram

Strategic goals should be determined according to the SMART principle, which means they should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Given a specific strategic area, an example of a goal could be: Establish a full-time university/faculty counselling centre by the beginning of the academic year 2026/2027.

Examples of goals defined in the aforementioned guideline document "Student and Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020 – 2023: Promoting a Whole Institution Approach" by The Open University, focused on promoting mental health and well-being within the university community, are:

• implement a whole-institution approach to mental health and well-being across the entire institution, integrating support for students and staff;
• empower students and staff with the skills, tools, and sense of belonging that foster positive mental health behaviors and an inclusive culture;
• act proactively in supporting students and staff who are at risk of poor mental health, actively reducing the stigma associated with these challenges;
• provide a diverse and effective range of support services that meet the specific needs of students throughout their entire studies;
• support students in successfully navigating key transitions in their studies to achieve success and maximise potential, while maintaining good mental health and well-being;
• ensure proactive identification and addressing of the needs of all categories of staff regarding mental health and well-being;
• use data, learning analytics, and research for the systematic evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of interventions and support for mental health and well-being;
• establish strong collaboration within the university and influential external partnerships to inform and provide effective support for the mental health and well-being of students and staff.

The document also defines activities and sets indicators.