Primary goals of the VAP included:
- to provide advice to senior-level colleagues at the host institution on academic and administrative changes that seem promising, improve operations, and achieve objectives that the host university has identified for consideration; and
- to offer advice on progressive reforms that will enable the host universities to play a leadership role in the economic and social advancement of their respective nations.
Secondary goals included:
- the promotion of administrative improvement (e.g., in budgeting and revenue procurement, human resource management, and the development of technology);
- the fostering of academic advancement (e.g., through curricular reform, interdisciplinary programming, instructional approaches, and international linkages);
- political enhancement (e.g., internally through legitimatizing developments, and externally through credibility accorded by governmental authorities);
- profile raising (e.g., press conferences and media interviews with Visiting Advisors); and
- status building (e.g., through this visible linkage to the prestigious Salzburg Global Seminar).
(VAP Proposal Carnegie Corporation, 2005-2007)