Managing Strategies for Higher Education Institutions in the UK: An Overview

Abstract

This article deals with strategic management issues in the higher education sector in the UK. The core idea is presented here with the argument that the principle and practice of strategic management are not only the concerns of senior management, but also an essential requirement at all levels of management of higher education. It shows that higher education institutions exist in a complex and changing environment with an increasing need for fast and effective strategic responses to external pressures. Having identified these issues, this article considers a form of strategic issues such as strategic management in higher education, three different levels of strategy and also discusses Porter’s five forces in the context of UK higher education sector. Though these issues are considered from a theoretical standpoint, they are linked to the competitive positioning and strategic management concepts being used in higher education.

Keywords: Higher education, strategic planning, marketing, competitive advantage

JEL Classification: I23