Missions of Future Curricula for Realizing the Visions of Iranian Higher Education on the horizon, 2025

Year 2018, Volume: 18 Issue: 77, 145 - 162, 20.09.2018

Hamid Abdı Seyed Ebrahim Mirshah Ja’farı Mohammad Reza Nıl Saeid Rajaeıpour

Abstract

Problem
Statement: To Iranian
policy makers, higher education plays a key role in realizing the country’s
development visions. This has led to the mapping of visions of higher education
in upstream resources. In this regard, curriculum is an essential tool for higher education
to fulfil its functions optimally. However, despite its significance, the clarification of the missions of
future curricula is almost entirely neglected in Iran as the subject of
research. Purpose
of Study: This study
aimed to clarify the missions of future curricula of Iranian higher
education based on

the visions of the country’s higher education on
the horizon of 2025 (Iran’s 20-Year Vision Plan). Research Methods: The present research was developmental in terms of purpose, and was
conducted through a combined exploratory method in the academic year 2014-15.
The qualitative method was used to analyse the qualitative content of the
upstream resources (e.g., artefacts and policy
documents) as well as interviews with 14 experts from higher
education. In addition, the quantitative method was used to collect data from
338 faculty members and PhD students. In this research, the data obtained from
qualitative content analysis of the interviews was used to build the
questionnaire. Findings: Findings indicated that the emphasis on research and
technological functions, alongside that of education and service, pursues the
goal of translating the knowledge acquired in the country into product. The
results also revealed that, the approach to future curricula is
society-oriented, and the accountability to the society should be at the centre
of strategies of curriculum development. Implications for Research and Practice: The present study emphasized making Iranian universities more mission-oriented
and aligned with the realization of higher education perspectives as well as the
realization of sustainable development through following the established
missions for the curriculum.

 

Keywords

Higher education, missions of future curricula, sustainability, upstream resources, visions of higher education

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