Hello everyone, I would like to gather experiences of sustaining and developing a higher education institution to ensure its survival in the ever challenging globalized world. Lets take the worst case scenario- lack of funding, low number of enrollment, almost no governmental support and stiff competition from older and established institutions. How to ensure that the institution will survive?
I would move to less competitive areas or niches where we have a strategic edge.
1. For example, you have a high-profile organic chemistry department and some others close to the industry (e.g., packaging). You want more students to enrol in these classes, so you keep the faculty there, even you improve the capabilities. You give those departments higher responsibility and independence, and encourage them to develop connections with the industry, beyond the usual research proposals for funding to the government. Even they can have their consultancy business. The department head gets serious incentives and key personnel as well.
2. Develop cooperation with universities around and provide specific lectures in the best institute while the curriculum and the student handled by the lead university of the major. You provide services to each other, save costs and become more attractive based on the improved quality.
3. All the non-core departments are 'outsourced', either to a partner university or have the department head inside and hire adjunct faculty, casual lecturers and contractors.
4. Focus on online courses and short courses since you have your campus and your strengths, you are more credible than the first online institutes. You need to acquire online teaching and sales experience either by cooperation, organic growth or buying a successful online University.
5. Hunt for contracts with large enterprises and the army. It can be soft skills development and diplomas, whatever they need.
6. Keep a small but diverse portfolio of research for future opportunities.
7. Have a due-diligence to know your value in case of an exit.
8. Assess the social and economic impacts of the campus and introduce the issue to the local government, ask help to implement the planned changes.
9. Ask help from the local community and alumni to implement the planned changes.
All the hurdles you have mentioned are the reality if you want to start an Institution. If you want to succeed in this competitive world, then you have to think differently. Make a SWOT analysis (Strengths; Weaknesses; Opportunities; Threats) and accordingly plan and progress. Don't always think of economy (though it is important); it is the quality which counts in the long run.
http://www.iau-aiu.net/content/pdf/Rebello.pdf
To specify funds for developing higher studies and Bachlor studies.
Total Quality Management says ((Do the right thing from the first step))
I mean that should start with kindergartens and primary schools
Work as close to the community as possible and develop an environmental management system with the entire academic community. Predicting environmental education actions and the use of natural resources in a rational and sustainable way.
Who would want to establish such an organization if there is scarce funding, low numbers of enrollment, no governmental support to speak of, and stiff competition from older and established institutions? What is the value proposition of such an institution? What is the theory of its business?
Hi, do you mean sustaining or surviving as a higher education (HED) institution? I'd say start with the basic check of your real status as an institution of learning. Is it viable for you to continue operating or not? A quick check on your enrolment profile for the past 5 years will tell you if it's time to stop or not. Financial viability is the first consideration because that will tell you upfront what to expect and to what extent you can strategize with the other alternatives already mentioned by Mr. Radicks. If your HED runs because of government support, it has hope on a break-even prospect for a couple of years but not for a decade. If your institution aims for quality, it must have the resources needed to keep afloat.
You need to examine the value of your institution. What can be done to increase the institution's value - value in the eyes of the government, value in the eyes of potential students, and the qualities that set it apart from competing institutions? Only if there is value can, and should, the institution survive.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Political Science
- International History and Politics
- Globalization