Mission and vision statements are similar, but different.
Like businesses, many educational institutions have vision and mission statements. Many schools craft their vision and mission statements when they are first founded, and some revise their mission statements periodically to reflect changes in their policies, direction, and purpose. Though vision and mission statements are used almost synonymously, they differentiate from each other in time horizon, nature, and purpose. Failing to distinguish the difference and abide by the separate meanings can lead an institution to lose its direction.
Strategic Planning
Strategic planning is a process that defines who an institution is, what its purpose is, how it can achieve its goals, and whom it serves. Both vision and mission statements should be at the core of strategic planning in an educational institution. This process should involve as many interested parties from different disciplines within the school as possible. Guided by the vision and mission statements, the leadership of an institution can design programs that meet both short-term and long-term goals. It is an on-going process that creates synergies within the institution and beyond.
Vision Statement
In education the vision statement should describe the specific long-term goal or dream of an institution. It gives direction to the institution, the governance party, faculty, staff, and students. The vision statement should respond to the purpose of the institution. It should also be unique to the institution. The future of the institution depends heavily on its vision. If an institution does not have a clear vision, it becomes lost and it will be hard to promote action and change for the better. Often, the vision statement is a single, concise sentence. Though the vision can be abstract, it needs to be feasible to turn it into actions.
Mission Statement
The mission statement is the practical actions that implement the vision, which is the ultimate dream or aspiration. The mission statement defines the fundamental purpose of an institution. It should be clear and actionable and set to achieve the vision of the institution. The mission statement is usually publicly disclosed in schools publications, whereas the vision statement is not. The mission statement is generally longer than the vision statement, approximately 100 words as opposed to a single sentence, and may contain a few items that the school aims at achieving.
Significance and More
In short, vision statements tend to be long-term and surreal while mission statements are more practical. An educational institution should promote its vision and mission in all aspects of its service. During the strategic planning process, it is essential to discuss values and strategies to achieve the institutions ideals, including its vision, its mission, and its values. Achieving the various parts of the mission shapes the broader goals of the vision and strengthens the values of an educational institution.
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