The development of a curriculum is an important process in Higher education. An effective curriculum will ensure that a student’s education from the university gives them the right knowledge and skills to transition into the work world. It helps the students understand what their different learning goals are in this course and at what time they should be able to achieve these goals.
This helps make the teaching and learning process more effective and consistent. However, this comes with challenges that complicate the curriculum development process. Let’s look into some of the challenges faced when developing an effective curriculum in higher education.
Challenges OF Curriculum Development
1. As There are Changes in the Industry Needs, the Curriculum Should Also Change with it.
As changes occur in the industry, the curriculum being developed should also accommodate these changes. The education and industry demands should be aligned. This requires constant communication between the curriculum developers and people working in the industry. An effective curriculum will help the students to prepare for future changes in the industry.
2. Students Are Different in Backgrounds And Needs.
Students may have levels of knowledge and experience and different styles of learning. A curriculum should accommodate all these differences. The curriculum must be inclusive to all students. Every type of student should be able to access it.
3. A Curriculum Should Have Both Theory And Practice.
Students should be given both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. This helps the students to succeed in the work field. Without either one of these, a student will struggle in the work world. It’s difficult to ensure that a curriculum has both of these.
4. A Curriculum Should have A Good Method For Assessing And Evaluating The Student’s Academic Performance.
A student’s academic performance should be accurately assessed. Developing a good method to do this is also part of developing a curriculum. The curriculum developers should develop good assessment and evaluation methods for measuring the academic performance of the students fairly and accurately.
5. There May Be People Who Are Not Okay With Changing The Curriculum When Necessary.
Members of the university faculty develop the curriculum. Many of them will not want to make changes to the current curriculum. This may be due to many reasons. The teachers may not want to change their current method of teaching and timetables. Students may be scared and confused by new changes. It can also be due to the faculty members not having training in curriculum development.
6. Resources Needed To Make A Good Curriculum is Limited.
Sometimes there is only limited funding, trained faculty, space, infrastructure, and/or technology. In such cases, developing a good curriculum can be difficult. It can be challenging for curriculum developers to develop a curriculum despite these limitations. Certain learning goals may be difficult to achieve due to these limitations. A good curriculum will have only achievable learning goals.
7. There Are Certain Accreditation And Regulation Rules That The University Must Follow When Developing A Curriculum.
The Universities have certain specific rules. This can depend upon the specific subject or class level. This can limit the curriculum developers and can be time-consuming. If a curriculum doesn’t meet these rules, then the course will be invalid. Curriculum developers have to develop a good curriculum without removing any important learning objectives to fit these rules.
Conclusion
Curriculum development for higher education is not easy. There are a lot of things to be considered when developing a curriculum. This includes changing industry needs, the differences in the student body, making sure the curriculum has both theory and practice, having a good method to evaluate the student’s learning, how many resources they have, and the specific rules and regulations that must be followed.
It is difficult to make a curriculum that is good and provides an education that will meet the industry demands and the specific academic rules and standards.
With the help of a good curriculum, the students can smoothly go from the academic environment to the work world. They have the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in their field of work
Some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
1. Why is it difficult to develop a curriculum where the education meets the industry’s needs?
Many difficulties can occur in this case. This includes, adapting to the changes in the industry’s needs, always communicating with the people who work in the industry to understand the demands and changes, and making the students capable of adapting to any future changes in the industry they will work in.
2. How do the University faculty try to accommodate students from different backgrounds?
By developing an inclusive curriculum that would accommodate students from all backgrounds and styles of learning. This course should also be accessible to all types of students.
3. What is the reason for following certain accreditation and regulation rules when developing a curriculum?
It is an important part of the curriculum development. This helps maintain the quality standard of the courses. It is a sign that the university is trustworthy. This tells the students that the course is good and valid. The students who studied under this curriculum are eligible to work in their respective fields.
4. Why is there resistance from some faculty while changing the curriculum?
Many university faculty may be against changing the curriculum due to various reasons. This includes faculty having no training, not being part of the curriculum development, and teachers not wanting to change their teaching methods and styles. Some may be against any changes as developing a curriculum is a complex and time-consuming process.
5. What are the advantages of a good curriculum?
Students following a good curriculum will have the knowledge and skills necessary for being successful in the work world. These students will also develop critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. This also helps the teachers do their job more effectively. The teachings will also be consistent and more engaging. Following a good curriculum will also help the students realize what learning goals they should achieve as their course progresses.