CRAFTING A STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT FOR QATAR UNIVERSITY'S COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: PROCESS AND OUTCOMES

Abstract

This study focuses on observing the strategic planning process within Qatar University's College of Medicine, offering a comprehensive analysis of both successes and shortcomings in achieving strategic objectives. The study provides an in-depth narrative of the college's strategic planning journey and addresses a notable gap in existing literature. Specifically, it underscores the lack of research on strategic planning in higher education institutions, especially in the realms of medical education and Arab countries. This study serves as the inaugural exploration of strategic planning practices within higher education institutions in Qatar, contributing to the literature. The study introduces and achieves four primary objectives: offering insights into the strategic planning process, constructing a narrative of the college's journey, presenting a roadmap action plan, and providing recommendations for an informed and effective strategic planning approach in the future. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to investigate the formulation of the first-ever strategic plan within a newly established medical college. The findings yield recommendations crucial in a competitive educational landscape, highlighting operational strengths and areas for improvement. Challenges within policy documentation, infrastructure, and monitoring systems are identified, with specific attention to issues such as transparency, supervision of clinical-year students, facility development, and changes in management. Recommendations extend to leadership members of educational institutions, emphasizing transparency, the establishment of a taskforce for plan monitoring, the importance of student exchange programs, and the significance of successful leadership transitions. The study concludes by discussing limitations and proposing potential guidelines for future research endeavors.