While the movement for flexibility in higher education can be traced back to the first corresponding courses in the 18th century, the recent pandemic has led to an unprecedented demand for flexible learning, particularly in higher education settings. This review of the literature delves into the evolution of flexible course design and defines…

Purpose: Recognising that there is increasing urgency to equip graduates to become future leaders in delivering the sustainable development goals (SDGs), this study presents a critical analysis of a whole-institution approach to embedding education for sustainable development (ESD) in curricula. This study aims to explore the wider reach of…

The focus of this paper is on the contestations and dilemmas emergent in the higher education curriculum in a context of increasing processes of unbundling, digitisation and marketisation. The paper explores the notion of contestation through the theoretical lens of Cultural-Historical Activity Theory. It points to illustrative examples of this…

This qualitative study explored the status of outcomes-based education (OBE) in Vietnam, analysing the strengths and areas for improvement as identified by assessors from the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) agency in the external assessment reports of 17 study programmes. Convenience sampling was employed to select these…

In higher education, significant efforts have been made to improve student success outcomes. In this dissertation, two important problems related to student academic success are considered. The curriculum plays a crucial role in shaping student success. Curricular complexity has been shown to be inversely related to the graduation rate of…

Partnership among higher education institutions serves as the central element for sustainable development. The quality of their partnerships is highly necessary for higher education development, specifically in academic infrastructure, curriculum design, pedagogical practices, and financial frameworks. This progression is expected to enhance…

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the contribution of higher education institutions (HEIs) to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and propose strategies to cultivate a culture centred on the SDGs in HEIs. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology used encompassed an integrative literature review, combining bibliographic analysis on…

Scholars have advocated for student voice and participation across curriculum design, assessment planning, and policymaking in higher education to advance and achieve equity (Montenegro and Jankowski 2020; Jankowski and Bheda 2022; Damiano 2018). However, the reality seems far different from the intention or aspiration, primarily because explicit…

Feedback literacy is an important graduate attribute that supports students' future work capacities. This study aimed to develop a framework through which discipline-specific feedback literacies, as a set of socially situated skills, can be developed within core curricula. The framework is developed through a content analysis of National…

Purpose: This paper aims to find out what conditions are needed to enhance higher education curricula towards employability from the perspective of different stakeholders in the graduate labour market. Design/methodology/approach: An empirical study was developed, using a qualitative approach, based on semi-structured interviews with higher…

The European University Association (EUA) Learning & Teaching Thematic Peer Group on "Internationalisation in learning and teaching" considers strategic and comprehensive internationalisation as a fit-for-purpose and timely means for universities to address global challenges and provide high-quality education. This paper presents the…

Higher education programs face challenges to increase accountability regarding student achievement. Course misalignment occurs as instructors interpret course objectives differently, making changes to the course content without considering overall program alignment and purpose. Misalignment prompts academic programs to revisit its curriculum to…

Creating a more coherent and integrated curriculum in higher education is a perennial concern. Critics and philosophers such as Immanuel Kant--one of the fathers of our modern academic system--candidly describes the political, social, and economic influences that underwrite academic fragmentation and dysfunction. Despite its complex definitions…

Disruptions have direct implications on the curriculum of higher education. Some disruptions are more subtle yet chronic such as longer-term impact from ideological changes to the national agenda and societal values relating to the purpose of higher education. There are also disruptive events such as the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)…

Purpose: Given the importance of quality assurance and the enhancement of curriculum in higher education institutions, it is vital to have a systematic process that measures students' performance objectively and effectively for continuous improvement of the programme/curriculum. The purpose of this study is to analyse the process of establishing…