The following education tip provides inspiration to write Chapter 'The Study Programme’s Vision, Mission Statement and Context' of the Study Programme. If applicable, separate suggestions are given for the PLAN and the DO.

Plan

Describe the study programme’s vision/mission in this section.

What is a vision? The study programme’s vision explains to a wide audience what the study programme stands for, what (future) goals the study programme aims for, and how the study programme wants to achieve them.

What is a mission?  A mission defines the study programme’s essential purpose and explains how the study programme distinguishes itself from similar (inter)national study programmes. A mission is timeless. It gives focus to the study programme, and motivates and connects all stakeholders. 

Important considerations 

• an explicit link between the study programme’s vision/mission and one or more university-wide missions statements (e.g. Ghent University’s general mission, the credo 'Dare to Think', Ghent University’s Education Policy: Six Strategic Education Objectives) can be of added value. In addition, it might be interesting to explicate the way in which the study programme’s mission is attuned to the faculty’s educational vision.  
• for the sake of unambiguous communication, it is important that mission content is in accordance with the information provided in the online study guide and study brochures. 

Do

Describe in this section the study programme’s mission/vision comes into being, thereby taking into account any of the following issues:

• identify the stakeholders (students, lecturers, professional field, alumni...) involved in drawing up mission and vision; 
• explain the different kinds of stakeholder involvement in mission development (e.g. via brainstorm/feedback sessions, via a professional field committee);
• indicate the durability of the current mission, and when it was last updated; 
• indicate how the mission is communicated to the stakeholders (student brochures, staff and/or alumni newsletters, alumni events, on the programme website, etc…).