Management of Curriculum Change: A Mechanism for Ensuring Continuous Academic Improvement in Ghanaian Universities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31686/ijier.vol6.iss2.941Keywords:
Curriculum, Curriculum Change, Higher Education, Continuous Improvement, Curriculum Reform, InstitutionalizationAbstract
Effective collaboration in the curriculum change effort remains a challenge in higher education, in particular, with comprehensive curriculum reform or change. Curriculum modification to existing courses or content will not always lead to the desired reform even though a collaborative approach has been the foundation of the process. Comprehensive and collaborative curriculum change requires a full examination of how academics conceive their role and how the curriculum itself is defined, analyzed, and changed.
Through a systematic review of literature, the researchers were able to create a contextualized emergent model for curriculum change management for Ghanaian universities derived from experience and educational policies.
It emerged from the review of literature that a collectively shared guiding vision for an effective curriculum change provided a strong foundation for the comprehensive curriculum review process; Embracing curriculum as a shared responsibility among faculty and administration led to widespread participation; The collaboration of various groups within the institution in the process promoted organizational change; Cultural issues regarding people and organizational structure served as barriers to the collaboration process, simultaneously the curriculum team’s sense of community strengthened the curriculum review process. This position paper therefore recommends that the Ministry of Education in conjunction with the Ghana Education Service should ensure that the practice of curriculum change is highly decentralized to reflect local concerns. Thus, the decentralization of the process would be tailored towards the local needs of the area. This would make education more meaningful and relevant to students.
Downloads
References
Barnett, R & Coate, K (2005) Engaging the curriculum in higher education. Berkshire: The Society for Research in Higher Education, Open University Press
Blenkin, G. M., Edwards, G., & Kelly, A. V. (1992). Change and curriculum. London: Paul Chapman.
Blignaut, S. (2011). The implementation of curriculum 2005 with reference to micro implementation. Paper delivered at the 2001 Conference of Education Association of South Africa (EASA), at the University of Port Elizabeth 16 to 18 January 2001.
Biggs, J. (1999). Teaching for quality learning at university. Buckingham: Society for Research in Higher Education, Open University Press.
Biggs, J. & Tang, C. (2011). Teaching for quality learning at university (4th ed.). Buckingham: Society for Research in Higher Education, Open University Press.
Bruner, J. S. (1960). The process of education. Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press.
Dean, J. C. (2005). Coping with curriculum change in South Africa. Leeds: Leeds
Metropolitan University.
Davis B.W. (2011). A conceptual model to support curriculum review, revision, and design in an associate degree nursing program. Nursing Education Perspectives, 32(6) 389-394.
Diamond, R. M. (2008). Designing and assessing courses and curricula: A practical guide (3th ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Eisner, E.W. (1979). The educational imagination: On the design and evaluation of school programs, New York: Macmillan.
Elen, J. (2002). Reality of excellence in higher education: The case of guided independent learning at the KU Leuven. Excellence in higher education, London: Portland Press.
Fink, D. L. (2003). Creating significant learning experiences: An integrated approach to designing college courses. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Fraser, S. P., & Bosanquet, A. M. (2006). The curriculum? That’s just a unit outline, isn’t it? Studies in higher education, 31(3), 269-284.
Horn, G. (2006). Educational solutions to improve the employability of senior high school learners. South African Journal of Education, 26 (1), 113-128.
Herring III, H.C., & Bryan, B. J. (2001). Curriculum development research: a literature guide. Accounting Education, 10(3), 315-323.
Hubball, H., & Burt, H. (2004). An integrated approach to developing and implementing learning-centered curricula. International Journal for Academic Development, 9(1), 51-65.
Jansen, D. J. (2008). Curriculum Reform in South Africa. Critical Analysis of Outcomes-Based Education. Cambridge Journal of Education, 28(3), 312-331.
Joubert, R., & Prinsloo, S. (2009). Education Law, Study Unit (Reader). Pietemaritzburg: University of Natal/SACTE.
Kelly, A.V. (2009). The curriculum: Theory and practice (6th ed). London: Sage Publications
Knight, P.T. (2001). Complexity and curriculum: A process approach to curriculum-making. Teaching in Higher Education, vol 6, no 3, pp 369-381.
Kotter, J. P., & Schlesinger, L. A. (2009). “Choosing Strategies for Change.” Harvard Business Review, 57 (2), 106-114.
Letschert, J. F. M. (2004). The art of curriculum development. Enschede: University of Twente.
Litzinger, T. A, Lattuca, L. R., Hadgraft R. G & Newstetter W. C. (2011) Engineering Education and the development of expertise. Journal of Engineering Education, 100 (1), 123-150.
Mampuru, K. C. (2001). Educational Management V: Human Resource Management. M.Tech: Education. Pretoria: Technikon Pretoria.
Marishane, R. N. (2002). Foundations and Point of Departure of Educational Management. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
Morcke, A. M & Eika, B. (2009) Medical faculty and curriculum design – ‘No, no, it’s like this: you give your lectures…’ Medical Teache, 31(6), 642-648.
Mudau, N. L. (2014). An Evaluation of an Implementation Model of Curriculum 2005 in the Foundation Phase: The Case of Malamulele District. M.Ed. dissertation. Thohoyandou: University of Venda.
Ofsted. (Office for Standards in Education). (2014). Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development, a discussion Paper. London: Ofsted.
Ornstein, A. C. & Hunkins, F. (2009). Curriculum Foundation Principles and Theory. 2nd Edition. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
O’Neill, G. (2010). Initiating curriculum revision: exploring the practices of educational developers. International Journal for Academic Development, 15(1), 61-71.
Posner, G. J. (1995) Analyzing the curriculum (2nd Ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Pretorius, J. D. (2001). The higher education business. Can it cope with International Challenge? South African Journal of Higher Education, 15, 74-79.
Print, M. (2013). Curriculum development and design. 2nd Edition. Sydney: Allen &
Unwin (Pty) Ltd.
Prideaux, D. (2003). ABC of learning and teaching in medicine. Curriculum design. British Medical Journal, 326, 268-270.
Prideaux, D. (2007). Curriculum development in medical education: From acronyms to dynamism. Teaching and teacher education, 23, 294-302.
Prosser, M., & Trigwell, K. (1999). Understanding Learning and Teaching; the experience in higher education, Buckingham; Open University Press: SRHE.
Ramsden, P. (2003). Learning to teach in higher education (2nd ed.). London: Routledge Falmer
Stark, J., & Lattuca, L. (1997). Shaping the college curriculum: Academic plans in action. Massachusetts: Allyn and Bacon.
Shiundu, J. S. & Omulando, S. J. (2012). Curriculum Theory and Practice in Kenya.
Nairobi: Oxford University Press.
Skillbeck, M. (1996.). Curriculum Reform. An overview of Trends. Paris: Centre for
Educational Research and Innovation (CER1).
Stenhouse, L. (1975). An introduction to curriculum research and development. London: Heineman.
Stensaker, B., & Harvey, L. (2006). Old wine in new bottles? A comparison of public and private accreditation schemes in higher education. Higher Education Policy, 19, 65-85.
Tyler, R.W. (1949). Basic principles of curriculum and instruction. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Van der Merwe, H. M. (2002). Management of the Curriculum. Study Guide. Department of Postgraduate Education. Johannesburg: Vista University.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2018 Mumuni Baba Yidana, Gabriel Kwasi Aboagye
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyrights for articles published in IJIER journals are retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. The journal/publisher is not responsible for subsequent uses of the work. It is the author's responsibility to bring an infringement action if so desired by the author for more visit Copyright & License.
How to Cite
