National strategies in the field of higher education: content, types, subjects

Abstract

Purpose. To define the specific features of formation and implementation of the national educational strategies and their differences from the business strategies. Methods. The author's position is presented through the use of the process, situational and evolutionary approaches and the comparative analysis of development and implementation of strategic projects by public authorities and by business organisations. Object. Methodology of developing and implementing national education strategies, identification of types of national strategies in the field of higher education depending on conditions and subjects of implementation. Novelty. Comparative analysis is carried out of the process of development and implementation of strategies by national bodies and by business organization management. Conditions and subjects of national strategies in the field of higher education are identified. The ratio of strategic and current educational policy is provided. Opportunities and limitations are revealed of applying the ideas and practices of strategic management of business organizations for strategic management at universities. Results. The article justifies that the subject of strategic management of education at national level is the state policy in the field of education itself. The national strategies are identified as subject goals, objectives-states adopted by the government in the field of education. The following differences have been formulated: strategic and reforming plans, strategic and administrative planning. The perception of national strategies concerning universities is proposed as a project to grant universities the right of taking strategic decisions regarding potential problems. The typology of national strategies in the field of higher education is provided depending on distribution of powers between the subjects of management of universities in future, on the powers of public bodies. Strategies as part of the strategic project at university level are considered, their specific features as compared to the strategic projects of business organizations are revealed.