eng Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Educational Research 2327-6150 2023-06-29 11 6 430 439 10.12691/education-11-6-12 EDUCATION202311612 article Mohamed M. Ghoneim Sywelem ghoneim23@gmail.com 1 Asmaa Mohamed Elsayed Makhlouf 2 Educational Foundations & Planning, College of Education, Suez University, Egypt Comparative Education & Educational Administration, College of Education, Suez University, Egypt This study examines the common challenges of strategic planning for Higher Education in Egypt. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 13 academic leaders in Egyptian universities. The study highlighted lack of awareness, lack of monitoring, unsupportive environment, shortage of knowledge and experience, bureaucracy barriers, non- availability of training courses and no- regular assessment as prominent internal challenges, while university laws and regulations, integration, economic crisis, social changes and lack of technology were highlighted as prominent external challenges. The study identified some coping strategies suggested by university academic leaders to overcome these challenges, which have implications for further research and practice. Apart from developing an empirical picture of the common challenges of strategic planning in higher education institutions in Egypt, the study also provides further insight into strategic planning process and raise additional research questions which merit further study. http://pubs.sciepub.com/education/11/6/12/education-11-6-12.pdf challenges strategic planning higher education Egypt