Abstract:

Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI) has recognized the importance of strategic planning since its early years. The first plan spread over the period 2004-2009 and delineated broad and ambitious goals and outlined university values after a thorough SWOT analysis (Strategic Plan, 2004). The first plan had 5 priorities: (1) Enriching Quality of Academic Programs and Scholarship, (2) Improving Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability, (3) Achieving Financial Stability and Sustainability, (4) Infrastructure development, and (5) Enhancing Global and Local Community Service. Several actions toward these priorities were delineated by a steering committee throughout the years of the plan.
An effective training took place from 2006 to 2009, with the help of a Tempus project with the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Barcelona (UPC) and the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium (KUL) on Quality in University Management, an initial project of the School of Science and Engineering (SSE) that was opened to all components of the university. Through the development of management structures, training in strategic planning in a university setting, as well as involvement of the key players in various university departments in this joint project, AUI has used a more participative approach to come up with its second plan spreading over 2010-2014. All units of the institution have been involved in the development of a SWOT analysis, the definition of mission and vision, and the framing of the seven lines of the new plan, as well as their goals, objectives and actions (Strategic Plan, 2009). The seven priorities are: (1) Reinforcement of the North American Educational Model, (2) Quality Assurance and Accreditation, (3) Growth and Development, (4) Internationalization of the University, (5) Financial Sustainability, (6) Educational Leadership and Innovation, (7) Human Capital Development.
Key performance indicators have been determined for each action, to ease up progress monitoring and assessment of the plan. Recognizing the importance of systemic strategic planning follow up, AUI has created a new position of Vice President for Strategic Plan dedicated to that effect. As AUI is strengthening its experience with strategic planning, work is in progress with all university units to determine yearly quantifiable targets for each action of the plan any unit may be contributing to. As AUI is building up a history with strategic planning, it is timely to develop a body of knowledge that collects good practices and updates them regularly for these to be shared with national and regional institutions.
The purpose of this study is to put together some known facts about strategic planning and make them available in a concise format, for young institutions potential use, as well as to describe the challenges faced during the different phases of this exercise. In this paper, we propose to delineate different steps a young educational institution might take in its quest to develop a strategic plan, as well as the challenges it may be facing in the course of this process. We also revisit best practices in strategic planning through the strategy change cycle and describe the experience of Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI), a relatively young Moroccan institution that follows the American educational style.

Keywords:

Strategic Planning, Higher Education.