Management in High Education

As far as the management in the high education system is concerned, it should have a clear goal: to get activities completed efficiently and effectively. Management starts with planning. Good management starts with good planning.

Strategic plans should establish overall objectives; operational plans should specify details on how individual objectives are to be achieved. Strategic planning implies that an organization should define its direction of functioning and decide on giving the proper assignments to proper personnel in order to achieve its aims. Strategic planning determines exactly where an organization stands, where it wants to go and how it will get there. It is the formal consideration of an organization's future course and it usually sets its goals for the upcoming 3-5 years. A successful strategic plan usually consists of a vision, mission, objectives and time limits, as well as the analysis of the organization's advantages and disadvantages, and the evaluation of the results.

The difference between the definition of a mission and the definition of a vision is that the definition of the mission is focused on the current state of an organization, while the vision is focused on the future of the organization. In other words, the vision exhibits the optimistic view of the organization's future, while the mission principally describes the purpose of the organization.

Defining the mission is a crucial element in the strategic planning of an organization. Speaking in terms of high education reforms in Serbia , it is quite clear that Serbia has already been given a clear strategic plan by the European Union. Having adopted the missions and the policy for the high education reform, the management of the universities should start directing and organizing its work on the reforms more strictly and systematically.

In terms of operational plans of high education reforms in Serbia , there is a need for clear timetables and deadlines. People must be coerced or controlled to do work to achieve the given objectives. Establishing structures for monitoring and review, learning from each other, and staff development and training are also issues that should be concentrated on.

The roles and responsibilities of individuals in quality management should be clearly defined. Then, priorities for action ought to be identified. Moreover, consistent examination procedures, criteria, and standards should be ensured, as well as effective and transparent criteria for the appointment, promotion, and reward of staff that define and apply them in all higher education institutions. National and cross-border cooperation within wider Europe should be increased, by taking as reference the objectives of the Bologna Process and developing appropriate networking activities. The need for further financial and human support provided by international organizations and various academic and donor organizations is necessary at this phase of the higher education reform processes in Serbia .

Abrahams, Jeffrey. (1995). The Mission Statement Book. Berkley , California : Ten Speed Press.