Abstracts
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to build upon empirical research, leadership theory, open university practice, and shifting global trends to provide open university leaders with a framework for strategic reset. Strategic reset entails re-setting institutions’ priorities – making leadership choices – and taking action to build competitive advantage, quality, and service for the future. The foundational pillars of strategic reset are centred around 1) digitalization – specifically online capacity; 2) setting new strategic priorities, and 3) establishing a national footprint that aligns with critical national employment and workforce development needs. A secondary theme that weaves itself through this article is the need for open universities to revitalize their commitment to innovation. The article concludes by offering some tactical actions that open university leaders can consider for framing strategic reset and setting new priorities for the future. These include the following: 1) streamlined open university models; 2) precision access; 3) building a national service footprint; 4) renewal of critical partnerships; and 5) exploring alternative funding models.
Keywords:
- open universities,
- strategic priorities,
- digitalisation,
- leadership,
- strategic reset
Résumé
Cet article s’appuie sur la recherche empirique, la théorie du leadership, la pratique des universités ouvertes et l’évolution des tendances mondiales pour fournir aux dirigeants des universités ouvertes un cadre de refonte stratégique. La refonte stratégique consiste à redéfinir les priorités des établissements – en effectuant des choix de leadership – et à prendre des mesures pour renforcer l’avantage concurrentiel, la qualité et les services pour l’avenir. Les piliers fondamentaux de la refonte stratégique s’articulent autour de : 1) la numérisation, et plus particulièrement les capacités en ligne; 2) la définition de nouvelles priorités stratégiques; et 3) l’établissement d’une empreinte nationale alignée sur les besoins nationaux essentiels en matière d’emploi et de développement de la main-d’oeuvre. Un thème secondaire transparaît dans cet article : la nécessité pour les universités ouvertes de revitaliser leur engagement en faveur de l’innovation. L’article conclut en proposant quelques actions tactiques que les dirigeants des universités ouvertes peuvent envisager pour encadrer leur refonte stratégique et définir de nouvelles priorités pour l’avenir. Parmi celles-ci : 1) des modèles d’universités ouvertes rationalisés; 2) un accès précis; 3) la création d’une empreinte nationale de services; 4) le renouvellement des partenariats essentiels; et 5) l’exploration de modèles de financement alternatifs.
Mots-clés :
- universités ouvertes,
- priorités stratégiques,
- numérisation,
- leadership,
- réinitialisation stratégique
Resumen
El propósito de este artículo es basarse en la investigación empírica, la teoría del liderazgo, la práctica universitaria abierta y las tendencias globales cambiantes para brindar a los líderes de universidades abiertas un marco para el reajuste estratégico. El reajuste estratégico consiste en redefinir las prioridades de las instituciones (tomando decisiones de liderazgo) y tomando medidas para construir ventaja competitiva, calidad y servicio para el futuro. Los pilares fundamentales del reajuste estratégico se centran en 1) la digitalización, específicamente la capacidad en línea; 2) el establecimiento de nuevas prioridades estratégicas; y 3) el establecimiento de una presencia nacional que se alinee con las necesidades nacionales críticas de empleo y desarrollo de la fuerza laboral. Un tema secundario que se entrelaza a lo largo de este artículo es la necesidad de que las universidades abiertas revitalicen su compromiso con la innovación. El artículo concluye ofreciendo algunas acciones tácticas que los líderes de universidades abiertas pueden considerar para enmarcar el reajuste estratégico y establecer nuevas prioridades para el futuro. Estas incluyen: 1) modelos de universidad abierta simplificados; 2) acceso de precisión; 3) desarrollo de una presencia nacional de servicios; 4) renovación de alianzas estratégicas; y 5) exploración de modelos alternativos de financiación.
Palabras clave:
- universidades abiertas,
- prioridades estratégicas,
- digitalización,
- liderazgo,
- reajuste estratégico
Resumo
O objetivo deste artigo foi aprofundar pesquisas empíricas, teorias da liderança, práticas de universidades abertas e tendências globais em transformação a fim de fornecer aos líderes dessas instituições um referencial para um reposicionamento estratégico. O reposicionamento estratégico consiste em redefinir as prioridades institucionais – fazendo escolhas de liderança – e em tomar medidas para construir vantagens competitivas, qualidade e serviço para o futuro. Os pilares fundamentais desse ereposicionamento estratégico concentram-se em 1) digitalização – especialmente o fortalecimento da capacidade online; 2) definição de novas prioridades estratégicas e 3) estabelecimento de uma presença nacional que esteja alinhada às necessidades críticas de emprego e desenvolvimento da força de trabalho.. Um tema secundário que se entrelaça ao longo do artigo é a necessidade de as universidades abertas revitalizarem o seu compromisso com a inovação. O artigo conclui oferecendo algumas ações táticas que os líderes das universidades abertas podem considerar para estruturar o reposicionamento estratégico e definir novas prioridades para o futuro. Entre elas estão: 1) modelos simplificados de universidades abertas; 2) acesso de precisão; 3) constru ção de uma presença nacional de serviços ; 4) renovação de parcerias essenciais; e 5) exploração de modelos alternativos de financiamento.
Palavras chaves:
- universidades abertas,
- prioridades estratégicas,
- digitalização,
- liderança,
- redefinição estratégica
Appendices
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