The Academic Framework for Innovation - End to End Curriculum Reform Jean Hughes Dublin City University

This session was about curriculum reform across the University at a time when although there is now a National Framework of Qualifications under Ireland's Universities Act all Universities and academic had complete freedom and so they did not have to make changes although the view is this will change.

Dublin City wanted to make changes against the backdrop of the Bologna process.

When the work started they found as we all have there is no common understanding of the term curriculum and no definition. This lack of understanding was both academics and students and acorss the whole University. The impetus for this change also was to provide flexibility, student choice, consistency of standards and improve completion rates.

The change involved being modular, using learning outcomes, be clear about what the student experience involoved but still allows for academic freedome in terms of the content and how this is taught.

There was discussion of some of the difficulties but that now staff were clear about the importance of this and equality across programmes and schools.

There is still however no clear definition across the University of the term "curriculum".