Much has changed since our last strategic plan, Ideas Can, concluded in 2020. As we look ahead, we are excited to begin shaping a new strategy that reflects our collective priorities and guides the Federation in the years to come. This strategic planning process will be shaped by the voices of our members, partners, and the broader humanities and social sciences community, ensuring that it supports us all in responding to new and emerging challenges and contributing to a strong and sustainable future.
While the Federation’s Board of Directors is responsible for approving the Strategic Plan, we believe that whole community participation is essential to its success. We are committed to engaging our members throughout the consultation phase to ensure we reflect a shared vision for the Federation’s future. By learning more about the priorities and aspirations of our community, we aim to develop a strategy that is both grounded and forward-looking.
We are working with Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA) to support the Strategic Plan's development. HESA’s team includes highly experienced facilitators with deep knowledge of the higher education sector.
Development timeline
- Phase 1: Intensive consultation
- A survey of Federation stakeholders (spring) [Complete]
- A series of engagement sessions with Federation members, stakeholders, and the community (Congress 2025 in-person consultations, summer virtual consultations) [Complete]
- Phase 2: Strategic development (August 2025) [Complete]
- Phase 3: Plan development and finalization (Autumn-Winter 2025)
Latest update (October)
Our proposed new strategic direction was presented to the Federation’s Board of Directors on October 3. Following this milestone, the plan is being finalized and integrated into our work, with a full launch to our community in the months ahead. This next phase marks an important step in charting a clear, collective path for the Federation and our community's future.
Reimagining Congress Task Force
In summer 2025, the Federation launched the Reimagining Congress Task Force, composed of 20 community members representing a range of disciplines, associations, institutions, equity-deserving groups, and francophone communities. The Task Force met through August to explore future event models. Their recommendations will inform how the Federation supports scholarly convening beyond 2026.