iDigBio opens registration for a free online strategic planning course for biological collections
iDigBio has opened the registration period for the new edition of “Strategic Planning for Biodiversity Collections”, a free online course on strategic planning for biological collections. It is aimed at anyone affiliated with a biodiversity collection, anywhere in the world, who wishes to equip their institution with its own strategic plan. The sessions will be held in English every Friday, from 17:00 to 18:00 (CEST), between 18 September and 20 November 2026, and the deadline to apply for a place is 9 September.
The course is coordinated by Austin Mast, Associate Principal Investigator at iDigBio and Director of the Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium at Florida State University, and by David Jennings, Project Manager for iDigBio/PI3 at the Florida Museum (University of Florida) and Chair of the GBIF Nodes Committee. Their involvement brings to the programme a perspective closely aligned with the realities of institutions that, like those in Spain, are part of the international GBIF network.
What the free online Strategic Planning Course for Biological Collections involves
Over eight weekly sessions, participants will work step by step to develop a concise strategic plan of five to ten pages, tailored to the collection they represent. The final document should address key elements such as vision, mission, values, stakeholders, strategies, objectives, evaluation indicators, and the long-term sustainability of the collection.
Beyond the resulting document, the course organisers emphasise that the reflective process itself is as valuable as the final product: thinking systematically about the purpose of a collection and how to communicate it to administrators and funders often yields benefits that go beyond the strategic plan itself.
The programme requires an estimated weekly commitment of around five hours, including the live session, and all classes will be recorded for those who prefer to follow them asynchronously. The course focuses exclusively on strategic planning and therefore does not cover techniques for collecting, curating, or mobilising data.
Who can participate
The call is open to anyone affiliated with a biodiversity collection, regardless of country or career stage, although the sessions will be conducted entirely in English. The number of places is limited to ensure that all participants can engage actively in discussions. Therefore, if several people from the same collection are interested, it is recommended that only one submit the formal application while the others join the exercises and working sessions outside class hours.
The selection process will consider, among other factors, diversity in career stages and types of collections represented, the urgency of the need for planning, the existence of concrete plans to apply the results in the short term—for example, in seeking funding—as well as the sustained interest of those who applied unsuccessfully in previous editions.
How to apply
Those who manage or are part of a biological collection and wish to take a step forward in their strategic planning can apply through the form before 9 September 2026. Admission decisions will be communicated shortly after the deadline.
Information on the session schedule is available in the course’s summary programme.