Article: Curriculum matters: building capacity for strategic change in UK higher education Journal: International Journal of Strategic Change Management (IJSCM) 2010 Vol.2 No.1 pp.18 - 31 Abstract: Substantial increases in undergraduate tuition fees, likely in 2011, might prompt universities in England to evaluate educational strategies to ensure a high-quality student learning experience and maintain competitive advantage. In this paper the author reflects on trends, policy directions and innovative practice and provides a rationale for curriculum to take centre stage in educational decision-making. The paper concludes with three fundamental dimensions to underpin a future learner-centred higher education curriculum. These curricula should be ability-based, so that undergraduates can increase their opportunities for employability; more creative, so that students engage with subject matter, each other and the wider community in collaborative ways; and multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, so that students are able to learn from multiple perspectives and take advantage of all the resources that research-intensive universities have to offer. Initiating fundamental educational reform at department level – within wider institutional academic priorities – is an important condition for evolving future learning environments. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Curriculum matters: building capacity for strategic change in UK higher education

Authors: George Lueddeke

Addresses: School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, UK

Abstract: Substantial increases in undergraduate tuition fees, likely in 2011, might prompt universities in England to evaluate educational strategies to ensure a high-quality student learning experience and maintain competitive advantage. In this paper the author reflects on trends, policy directions and innovative practice and provides a rationale for curriculum to take centre stage in educational decision-making. The paper concludes with three fundamental dimensions to underpin a future learner-centred higher education curriculum. These curricula should be ability-based, so that undergraduates can increase their opportunities for employability; more creative, so that students engage with subject matter, each other and the wider community in collaborative ways; and multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, so that students are able to learn from multiple perspectives and take advantage of all the resources that research-intensive universities have to offer. Initiating fundamental educational reform at department level – within wider institutional academic priorities – is an important condition for evolving future learning environments.

Keywords: UK higher education; education strategy; United Kingdon; educational trends; curriculum innovation; creative curricula; ability-based curricula; multidisciplinary curricula; interdisciplinary curricula; curriculum relevancy; global factors; curriculum relevancy; developmental strategy; change strategy matrix; future curriculum model; education policy; innovation; learning environments; educational reform.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSCM.2010.032520

International Journal of Strategic Change Management, 2010 Vol.2 No.1, pp.18 - 31

Published online: 04 Apr 2010 *

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Title: Curriculum matters: building capacity for strategic change in UK higher education

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