The Regional Studies Association (RSA) is inviting feedback on its draft strategy to 2030. The finalised plan, due to be launched at the end of the RSA’s 60th anniversary year, will set out the next phase for our work, and we would like RSA members and others help refine our ideas for taking regional studies and the Association forwards.
Why have a strategic plan?
A new strategic plan is of vital importance to the RSA. The very act of putting a plan together is helping us revisit, reinforce and clarify who we are and what we stand for after 60 years of existence. It has also prompted reflection on what we do best and what we want to achieve over the next few years. Once the final strategy is published, it will help our community and those beyond it better understand our work, thereby encouraging participation in and support for regional studies. By setting out aims and priorities, our strategic plan will also help us prioritise things our community recognises as being important to the future of regional studies. It will give the RSA’s Board and staff a clear roadmap to work on together, on behalf of members and in pursuit of our charitable mission.
Drafting the plan
Thanks are due to RSA Board members, staff and members for their input to the planning process to date. Last year, RSA Board members and staff took part in an exercise to consider the wider environment in which the RSA is likely to operate in coming years. This was published as an RSA Blog, Horizon Scanning. Between September 2024 and January 2025, a total of 151 members from more than 24 countries shared their experiences and perspectives as regional researchers and managers. Their views on the experience of being a regional researcher or manager and the support provided by the RSA were analysed by RSA Board member Grete Gansauer, with this evidence proving instrumental in shaping the draft strategy.
Download the draft RSA Strategy here.
Have your say
The RSA thrives off the energy and input of its members and others committed to recognising the importance of regions. We’d love to hear what RSA members and others think about the draft plan, and to gather any suggestions for advancing regional research and enabling its use for the benefit of people and places across the world.
Please click here to add your feedback or comments to our online form.
Deadline for responses: 23 July 2025