Strategic Development

Clarifying Direction -
Enabling Transformation

Universities are facing growing and often conflicting expectations:

to strengthen research performance, innovate teaching, engage with society, internationalize strategically, cooperate regionally, facilitate business innovation, high tech and green tech, and – most recently and most urgently – integrate AI into research, teaching and services, without losing sight of data protection and intellectual property — all within complex governance structures, participatory organisational cultures and contracting budgets.

In such conditions, strategy development defies planning. At best, it is a process of clarifying orientation under uncertainty. Beyond analysis and mobilizing narratives, it requires the ability to translate insight into coherent, implementable action while being alert to emerging opportunities and risks.

Strategy development is more than defining goals. It is about creating processes in which institutions can reflect, align and act.

My Experience

My strategy support builds on more than 30 years of experience across European higher education and research systems.

I support universities, science organisations and innovation actors in designing and advancing strategic development processes that connect institutional ambitions, organisational realities and external system dynamics.

My work combines:
  • comparative insight from international higher education systems
  • executive leadership experience at a major German research university
  • extensive expertise in institutional strategy, governance and organisational development
  • evaluation and quality assurance as foundations for strategic development
Working with institutions across Europe, I have supported universities and organisations in:
  • clarifying strategic priorities and institutional positioning
  • strengthening leadership and governance
  • developing strategic partnerships
  • building organisational capacity for change
Übergabe der Strategie Wissenschaftsstandort Nürnberg an Wirtschaftsreferent Dr. Michael Fraas

How I Work

Strategy development is not only about defining goals.
It is about creating processes in which institutions can reflect, align and act.

Depending on context, my work includes:

Design and facilitation of strategy workshops

Tailored formats addressing key institutional questions, from focused sessions to multi-stage institutional processes.

Strategy process coaching

Supporting leadership teams through critical phases of strategy development by combining institutional analysis, international benchmarking and structured reflection.

Leadership and team coaching in strategy contexts

Helping leaders address organisational and cultural challenges that influence strategic change.

The aim is to ensure that strategy is not only developed—but understood, shared, owned and implemented.

Areas of Work

My strategy mandates have addressed, among others:
  • institutional strategy and positioning
  • analysis of strengths, development potential and research profiles
  • governance and leadership structures
  • talent and human resource strategies, hiring policies and procedures
  • global and strategic partnerships and cooperationinnovation in teaching, lifelong learning and AI integration

Selected Mandates