Dimension I: Strategic Leadership and Sense of Purpose
Dimension I: Strategic Leadership and Sense of Purpose focuses on how the institution provides clear direction, long-term intent, and adaptive leadership as an applied higher education institution. This dimension examines the extent to which the institution defines and communicates an inspiring mission, vision, and strategy; demonstrates readiness for future challenges through foresight and agility; and embeds sustainable development principles across its core functions. Together, these elements reflect how effectively institutional leadership aligns purpose, strategy, and action to support relevance, resilience, and societal impact.
Criterion 1:
Inspiring Mission, Vision & Strategy
Develops and Articulates an Inspiring Mission, Vision and Strategy for its profile as an Applied Higher Education Institution.
Capabilities
- The institution has a clearly articulated, widely communicated, and publicly accessible mission, vision, and strategy that strongly reflect the core principles and distinctive characteristics of applied higher education.
- The development of the institution’s strategic framework was conducted through a highly participatory process, actively engaging a broad range of internal and external stakeholders to ensure relevance, ownership, and shared commitment.
- The strategic framework is supported by a robust monitoring and evaluation system, featuring clearly defined, measurable targets, regular performance reviews, and a structured process for continuous improvement and strategic updates.
Key outcome
- Stakeholder Awareness & Alignment: Extent to which the institution’s mission and vision are communicated by itself and its stakeholders, within and outside the institution (e.g. on websites, in staff induction, news articles, government information, etc).
Criterion 2:
Future Readiness, Agility & Adaptation
Incorporates future readiness, agility, and adaptation capabilities.
Capabilities
- The institution demonstrates a well-developed foresight capability embedded across its activities, enabling it to proactively anticipate and respond to emerging trends in learner needs, pedagogical innovation, technological advancement, and the evolving world of work.
- The institution actively involves a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders in futures-oriented thinking, using structured approaches to explore multiple scenarios and collaboratively shape a preferred, forward-looking strategy.
- The institution systematically integrates insights from foresight activities into decision-making, leading to timely and meaningful changes in policies, programmes, and practices that enhance its adaptability and long-term impact.
Key outcome
- Scenario Planning Exercises: Frequency of institutional foresight activities (e.g., workshops, simulations) to prepare for disruptive trends.
Criterion 3:
Embedding SDGs
Embeds the United National Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) holistically across everything the institution does in education and training, research and innovation, societal engagement, and its administrative practices.
Capabilities
- The institution has comprehensively mapped its courses and programmes against the SDGs identified areas of strong alignment, and conducted a thorough gap analysis to inform future curriculum development and strategic planning.
- The institution systematically evaluates its research, knowledge transfer, and external engagement initiatives for their alignment with and contribution to specific SDGs, ensuring that impact on sustainable development is tracked and enhanced over time.
- The institution fully integrates its commitment to the SDGs into its budgeting and resource allocation processes, prioritising initiatives that advance sustainable development outcomes as part of its strategic financial planning.
Key outcome
- Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) includes education for sustainable development.
Learn More About the Applied eXel Framework
For a detailed explanation of all dimensions, criteria, indicators, and the assessment approach underpinning Applied eXel, please download the full framework brochure.