On June 27th, a scientific seminar titled «Strategic Planning in Kazakhstani Universities after the Pandemic» was conducted at Narxoz University. The seminar aimed to present the research findings from the project «Responses to COVID-19 and post-pandemic strategies of Higher Education Institutions in Kazakhstan».
The speaker, Kairat Bulatovich Moldashev, PhD, project supervisor and Vice-Rector for Research at Suleiman Demirel University, presented the outcomes of the study to the seminar participants. The study primarily focused on the response of Kazakhstani university leadership to the COVID-19 pandemic and the implications of the measures taken for teachers, students, and the overall educational process.
In light of reduced government funding, the rapid advancement of digital technologies, and the demands of Industry 4.0, universities face the imperative of becoming more adaptable and responsive to a rapidly changing landscape. The COVID-19 pandemic has further underscored this necessity, prompting a reevaluation of strategic planning approaches and the importance of flexibility within universities.
Conducting a study on the strategic planning of Kazakhstani universities after the COVID-19 pandemic involved conducting in-depth interviews with key university administrators. Below are some preliminary results:
v There is a lack of stakeholder engagement in strategic planning.
v Insufficient qualifications of individuals responsible for strategic planning and a general shortage of personnel pose a problem.
v Future crises and shocks are not adequately considered in planning.
v Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the well-being of faculty and students are often disregarded in strategic planning.
v In state universities, the development of a strategy is influenced by a huge number of KPIs «lowered» from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
v The management of universities can ignore the strategy written under the previous management and lead the transformation without changing the strategy.
v In private universities, shareholders often have a dominant role in strategy development, with minimal involvement of internal and external stakeholders. But there are exceptions.
The seminar welcomed participants, including educators, staff, and students from various universities in Kazakhstan. The attendees expressed their confidence in the continued exchange of experiences and knowledge, as well as collaborative strategy development and decision-making essential for the advancement of higher education in Kazakhstan. This demonstrates the academic community's readiness to cooperate and work together in tackling challenges and overcoming difficulties in the education sector.
The speaker, Kairat Bulatovich Moldashev, PhD, project supervisor and Vice-Rector for Research at Suleiman Demirel University, presented the outcomes of the study to the seminar participants. The study primarily focused on the response of Kazakhstani university leadership to the COVID-19 pandemic and the implications of the measures taken for teachers, students, and the overall educational process.
In light of reduced government funding, the rapid advancement of digital technologies, and the demands of Industry 4.0, universities face the imperative of becoming more adaptable and responsive to a rapidly changing landscape. The COVID-19 pandemic has further underscored this necessity, prompting a reevaluation of strategic planning approaches and the importance of flexibility within universities.
Conducting a study on the strategic planning of Kazakhstani universities after the COVID-19 pandemic involved conducting in-depth interviews with key university administrators. Below are some preliminary results:
v There is a lack of stakeholder engagement in strategic planning.
v Insufficient qualifications of individuals responsible for strategic planning and a general shortage of personnel pose a problem.
v Future crises and shocks are not adequately considered in planning.
v Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the well-being of faculty and students are often disregarded in strategic planning.
v In state universities, the development of a strategy is influenced by a huge number of KPIs «lowered» from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
v The management of universities can ignore the strategy written under the previous management and lead the transformation without changing the strategy.
v In private universities, shareholders often have a dominant role in strategy development, with minimal involvement of internal and external stakeholders. But there are exceptions.
The seminar welcomed participants, including educators, staff, and students from various universities in Kazakhstan. The attendees expressed their confidence in the continued exchange of experiences and knowledge, as well as collaborative strategy development and decision-making essential for the advancement of higher education in Kazakhstan. This demonstrates the academic community's readiness to cooperate and work together in tackling challenges and overcoming difficulties in the education sector.