Abstract
The purpose of the research – This research aims to study the practices of strategy development in public and private universities in Kazakhstan and develop recommendations for their improvement. Particular attention is paid to the strategy development process, stakeholder engagement, the impact of the pandemic, as well as issues of well-being and digitalization. Methodology – Semi-structured face-to-face and online interviews were used as a collection method. The researchers conducted 7 semi-structured interviews with senior or middle managers who participated or are involved in the development of the strategy (rector, vice-rector, head of the department), as well as an analysis of strategic documents. Originality / value of the research – There are many studies in the scientific literature on the impact of the pandemic on various processes in higher education, but the impact on the strategic planning process, taking into account digitalization and the well-being of students and staff, is poorly studied. This study fills this gap, and also shows practices and difficulties in strategic planning at universities in Kazakhstan. Findings – In the process of strategic planning, there is a top-down approach, with low involvement of stakeholders. In public universities, the dominant role is played by key performance indicators (KPIs), released by the EOM, turning strategies into a plan to achieve these KPIs. The pandemic has prompted universities to take a strategic approach to digitalization, but well-being issues are not taken into account in the planning process.