STRATEGIC PLAN   (2005 – 2008)

 Introduction

 Foundation 50 Academic Society is a voluntary non-profit organization that advances scholarship and in particular academic publishing in indexed peer-reviewed journals through ongoing education and training.  It was first registered with the Registrar of Societies of Zambia on 12^th April, 2005, the Society is also registered with the University of Zambia.  

The Society is managed by an Executive Council consisting of 12 elected voluntary members.  The Society maintains contact with the members through regular monthly meetings, workshops, retreats, the Scientific Annual Meeting, and the Business Annual Meeting, E-mail Listserv and monthly journal clubs.  Financing is obtained through membership subscriptions payments for training, grants and donations.

Vision

“To place academic work at the center of national development and promote the quality of academic life.”

Mission

“To provide an organizational framework that promotes academic publishing in indexed and peer-reviewed journals for the purpose of advancing scholarship and contributing to national development.”

SWOT  (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Environmental Scan)

A.     Strengths

• The Society has a core of dedicated members
• The Society has highly qualified members from different specialties
• The Society is associated with the University of Zambia (UNZA) which has a high academic standing regionally and internationally
• The Society has access to UNZA facilities
• The Society has strong support from UNZA central administration
• The Society is founded on a sound principle and has clear objectives
• The Society is a legal body registered with the Registrar of Societies of Zambia

B.     Weaknesses

·        The Society is a new organization

·        The Society has no seed capital

C.     Opportunities

·        Availability of grant awarding organizations worldwide

·        An academic society is a novel idea in Zambia

·        Scholarship is valued and this is the area in which the Society is involved with

·        The Society can stimulate the growth of academic journals in Zambia

·        The Society can enhance personal growth and career development

·        The Society can stimulate national development

D.     Threats

·        Poor conditions of Service in UNZA and other institutions can lead to low membership levels

·        Insufficient response from potential members

·        The Society may be perceived as yet another Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO fatigue)

·        The Society may fail to mobilize resources

·        Loss of central administration support

·        Emergence of competing organizations

Strategic Issues

1.      Promote the image of Foundation 50 Academic Society as a sound professional body

2.      Establish a strong financial base

3.      Seize the opportunity to be identified as the first academic society in Zambia

4.      Maximize the chances of academicians responding to join the Society

5.      Capitalize on the goodwill for resource mobilization

6.      Maintain constructive engagement with central administration

7.      Enhance members ability to publish in academic journals

8.      Maintain and broaden the core group of dedicated members

Strategic Objectives

1.      Mobilise financial resources ($300,000) for a five-year work-plan by December 2006

2.      Develop a membership base of at least 150 members by June 2006

3.      Establish Foundation 50 Academic Society as the leading academic society with high quality professional standards through a Society web site, annual bulletin, and at least two academic events by December 2006

4.      Achieve membership growth of at least 20 members annually

5.      Achieve a total members’ publication output of at least 150 publications in peer-reviewed journals by December 2008

6.      Establish a members’ publication database by December 2005

Strategies

Strategies	Objective of Strategy	Programme/Projects
1. Marketing Strategy	Increase awareness of Foundation 50 Profile Foundation 50 Maintain membership growth	Publicity campaign Launch Conference/meetings Electronic publications Print publications
2. Build capacity for academic publishing	Organise activities that promote skills for academic publishing	Workshops, retreats, & scientific meetings Sourcing and awarding research grants
3. Increase value of membership	Maintain membership Achieve membership growth	Market member benefits Offer attractive membership benefits
4. Engage stakeholders	Maintain and acquire constructive relations	Communication and feedback to stakeholders Create networks with other academic societies Participatory interactions
5. Position Foundation 50 as a leading academic society in Zambia	Achieve and maintain a reputation and perception as a highly professional organisation	Web site Listserve Academic Bulletin Database Maintain high standards in all activities/events Quality assurance
6. Secure financial base for Foundation 50	Ensure sustainability of the Society Ensure the Society meets its purpose	Acquire seed grant Compete for grants Establish grant-giving capacity Invest wisely

Foundation 50 Academic Society – Logical Framework

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Vision “To place academic work at the center of national development and promote the quality of academic life.”
Mission “To provide an organizational framework that promotes academic publishing in indexed and peer-reviewed journals for the purpose of advancing scholarship and contributing to national development.”
Objectives and Outputs	Verifiable Indicator	Means of Verification	Assumption
1. Mobilise financial resources ($300,000) for a five-year work-plan by December 2006
Output 1 Improved financial status   Output 2 Enhanced capacity to implement activities	Cash flows     Number of financed budgets	Bank statements     Activity/financial reports	Goodwill exists Receptive potential members Marketing strategy effective
2. Develop a membership base of at least 150 members by June 2006
Output 1 Membership growth	Number of members	Members register	Information about Society widely circulated
3. Establish Foundation 50 Academic Society as the leading academic society with high quality professional standards through a Society web site, annual bulletin, and at least two academic events by December 2006
Output 1 Perceived as high standard professional society   Output 2 Increased membership growth rate	At least 80% of respondents rate Society highly     % increase in membership	Member satisfaction survey report     Members register	Acceptable response rate Information about Society widely circulated
4. Achieve membership growth of at least 20 members annually.
Output 1 Sustained membership growth	Number of new members joining	Members register	Marketing strategy effective Perceptions about Society positive Awareness about Society
5. Achieve a total members’ publication output of at least 150 publications in peer-reviewed journals by December 2008
Output 1 Increased publication rate   Output 2 Imparted publication skills