Strategic plans in terms of transparency and accountability: İnvestigation of the strategic plans of the state universities in Turkey

There are two concepts that have been on the agenda since the early 2000's in public administration where new methods are implemented in order to adapt to changing conditions: transparency and accountability. These concepts, which are often used together and almost intertwined, have become principles in the international arena. Strategic planning, which is a method transferred from the private sector to public sector, plays an important role in public administration by serving both transparency and accountability and also increasing efficiency and effectiveness. Within the scope of this thesis, the literature on the concepts of transparency, accountability and strategic planning was examined and the compliance of university strategic plans with transparency and accountability was evaluated. In the thesis study, the Transparency and Accountability Scale in the Strategic Plans of the Universities was created and the strategic plans of 117 state universities in Turkey were examined with the content analysis method by using the MAXQDA program. The data obtained were evaluated in terms of the age of the university, the number of plans prepared, the URAP (University Ranking by Academic Performance) ranking, and the repetition of transparency and accountability statements in strategic plans. At the same time, sections that lack transparency and accountability in the strategic plans of universities are identified. As a result of the research, a relationship was determined between compliance with transparency and accountability and university age, the number of plans prepared, the URAP ranking and the repetition of transparency and accountability statements in strategic plans. Considering the findings and suggestions developed based on the findings obtained, it is evaluated that the strategic plans to be prepared in the future will present more successful examples in terms of transparency and accountability. Keywords Transparency, Accountability, Strategic Planning, Universities, Turkey