Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE; Curtin University, Australia;
George Mason University and Michigan State University, USA

Problems Solved: Losing Competitive Position, Rapidly Changing Needs, Globalization		Strategic Focus: Crafting and Executing Strategy, Developing Organizational Capacity, Leading and Navigating Change, Transforming Facilities, Fostering Innovation and Creativity
Project Team(s): Donald Norris, Paul Lefrere, Nick Poulton, Bassem Khafagy, Phil Taylor

Strategic Initiatives has established a proven track record of assisting transnational universities in conducting environmental scanning, strategic planning, and change management to position these institutions for success in the increasingly competitive global education marketplace.

Since 2006, Strategic Initiatives has been working with the Higher Colleges of Technology in the United Arab Emirates to conduct an environmental scan and facilitate strategic planning for this 14-campus system of institutions. We have also framed a comprehensive leadership development for providing Emirati leaders of tomorrow with the skills and perspectives necessary to both succeed in the global economy and reshape the business and education culture in the Gulf Region.

Strategic Initiatives has also been collaborating with Curtin University of Technology in Australia, a 40,000 student university with over 16,000 transnational students in campuses in Australia and abroad. In May 2007, Dr. Norris conducted a week-long campus colloquium on strategic positioning, generating a wide-ranging, holistic strategic planning report that will guide the University’s ongoing efforts. Dr. Norris continues to counsel the University’s leadership team on its strategic positioning efforts.

Strategic Initiatives has been consulting to George Mason University for 20 years. Recently, we consulted on its strategic directions and positioning as a transnational university. This work is linked with the ongoing project to evolve Mason’s organization, structure, and programs as a distributed university.

Dr. Norris has advised the leadership of Michigan State University on a variety of issues relating to its aspring role as a “Global Grant University” as articulated by its President, Dr. Louanna Kimseyt Simon.

Other international clients have included: University of Ballarat (Australia), Confederation College (Canada), University College, Dublin (Ireland), University de Montreal (Canada), Lincoln University (New Zealand), University of Waikato (New Zealand), Mount College (Canada), UNITEC Polytechnic (New Zealand), University of Dammam (Saudi Arabia), and King Khalid University (Saudi Arabia).