Specifics of formulating the strategy of a higher education institution: A comparative study of the Warsaw University and the Krakow University of Economics (CUE)

Summary

Abstract This chapter aims to present the specific nature of formulating the strategy of a higher education institution, and to perform a comparative analysis of the Warsaw University and the Krakow University of Economics (CUE) in this respect. In the theoretical part, the authors discussed how an institution is managed in view of the challenges of the New Veberist concept. The key scenarios of the development of higher education were also specified. In the research part, the authors described the so-called exploration case study conducted by them, as well as the results of a comparative analysis of the strategic management process at certain entities.

Keywords: higher education institution, strategic management, comparative analysis, cxploration case study, ctrategic initiatives, development strategies

Introduction

The new Act on Higher Education and Science, enacted in 2018, has fundamentally shifted the principles of functioning for the higher education sector in Poland. In the wake of this, these institutions were faced with the need to change their previous strategies as well as their approach to creating them. One priority resulting from the act was research activity, reflected in highly scored publications and projects that generate revenues. The ranking mechanism of evaluating scientific disciplines has caused the need to maximize effects in this regard. As a result, higher education institutions have adopted new strategies, giving priority to the aspects of evaluating scientific disciplines. The process of their operationalization has included various mechanisms of influencing the effect of maximization. These strategies, to a much bigger extent than before, started resembling solutions used in business. The purpose of the chapter is to present the modified approach to creating strategies for higher education institutions caused by the current conditions of the operation of these entities. In order to reflect the contemporary tendencies, the authors will present an analysis of two example institutions where the strategies have been adopted, as well as the approach to strategy creation itself.