Chapter 3.2: Operational planning
Once strategic goals are set, it is necessary to develop a plan to achieve the strategic goal.
Operational planning typically includes deciding who is going to do what and by when and in what order so that the school will reach its strategic goals. These plans are usually the concern of the Principal and staff, they generally focus on the short term (up to 12 months) and they have to be linked to the annual budget.
- Operational plans and objectives:
- are developed from strategic goals
- are usually the concern of the Principal and staff
- set out systems and processes in detail
- have specific time frames
- are short term in focus (up to 12 months).
3.2.1 SMART objectives
The objectives of an operational plan can be summarised as ‘SMART’:
| S |
Specific |
- What are our targets to be achieved?
- How will this be done?
- Who will be responsible?
|
| M |
Measurable |
- Which indicators tell us the progress we have made towards our targets?
- Who will monitor them?
|
| A |
Achievable |
- What resources (human, financial, administrative, technical) are required?
|
| R |
Realistic |
- Can it be done?
- Does it have sufficient priority?
- Is it worth the cost?
|
| T |
Timely |
- When will it happen?
- Can it be done in the current year?
|
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3.2.2 Planning for international students
Planning for international students includes marketing, forecasting numbers, ensuring appropriate educational and pastoral care resources will be available and putting in place financial systems to manage them.
Useful resources to plan for international students are the marketing services of the Education New Zealand Trust, together with the general ‘export education brand’ for New Zealand.
International Students - Code of Practice for Pastoral Care
When students from other countries come to study in New Zealand, it is important that those students are well informed, safe and properly cared for. The Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students was introduced on 31 March 2002. The Code sets out minimum standards of advice and care that are expected of education providers regarding international students on their rolls. It provides a procedure that students can follow if they have concerns about their treatment by a New Zealand provider or agent of a provider. Unless a school signs up to the Code they are not able to enrol international students.
Summary of the Code
Standards are set for education providers to ensure that:
- high professional standards are maintained
- the recruitment of international students is undertaken in an ethical and responsible manner
- information supplied to international students is comprehensive, accurate and up to date
- students are provided with information before entering into any commitments
- contractual dealings with international students are conducted in an ethical and responsible manner
- the particular needs of international students are recognised
- international students under the age of 18 are in safe accommodation
- all providers have fair and equitable internal procedures for the resolution of international student grievances.
The Code also establishes the International Education Appeal Authority and the Review Panel to receive and adjudicate on student complaints.
Part 3 of the Code covers Contracts and Indemnity and one of the requirements is to have a policy that protects the fees of international students to ensure there are good fiscal control mechanisms in place.
Good fiscal controls should include:
- fees coded and audited separately
- fees not spent in advance on the premise that students will continue to attend the school
- the board always having sufficient reserves to be able to return student fees if a student refund is required because the school is unable to provide or continue a course or programme.
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Example: Fee Protection Policy
Kiwi Park School separately records fees received from international students as ‘fees in advance’. These funds are held in the school’s main bank account and only released as revenue when the fees have been earned (meaning when the student has completed a block of course work – usually on a term by term basis). Kiwi Park School Board of Trustees guarantees to keep sufficient funds in reserve to enable the refund of the unearned portion of fees, should the school or the student be unable to continue the course.
Note: This fee protection policy is a minimum requirement for schools hosting international students. Schools may have more comprehensive Fee Protection Policies, including separate bank accounts for fees in advance, insurance cover and legal trusts.