Conceptual Framework for Strategic Plan of Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

Strategic plan of higher education institutes dictates recognition and timely execution to cope with dynamic changes in technologyม socio-economic changes, and, recently, COVID 19 pandemic and consequential impacts. Ensuring successful achievement of university missions and goals necessitate understanding of various determinants, viz., demography, technological disruptions, industrial changes, market demands, behavior changes, multi-generations and diversity of learners. In addition, equity is an outstanding issue for Thailand. Apart from environmental scanning, foremost the critical success factors is human resources that needing continuous development. To carry out the university mission on education and others, as well as striving towards new goals, universities need to address existing, new and emerging constraints, i.e., (i) demographic changes entailing new learners of working population, the elders, and those not finishing basic education, (ii) efficient and effective uses of resources as well as sourcing new ones. Seeking new additional resources should be a mandate for all academic staff, in view of limited government budgets as well as establishment of new funding mechanism for research, science and innovations. Furthermore, universities must create new conditions for successes, removing pain points, instill new mindset and revise working protocols. First, changes in inputs, i.e. learners, pedagogy and learning methods for new learners and cultivation of technological entrepreneurs. Secondly, reform management of manpower and administration. This requires restructuring schools/faculties from department based to specialized lab/center based, and adopting talent management as basis of high performance staff and personnel.