Master’s and Postgraduate Diplomas in Curriculum
I gained the confidence to run educational activities in my country, and realized that curriculum design could fix many issues faced
One of UNESCO-IBE’s priorities is to enhance the capacity of Member States to lead and implement curriculum transformation and innovation processes effectively. In particular, UNESCO-IBE strives to support the implementation of Master’s/Postgraduate Diploma programmes in the curriculum in partnership with universities worldwide.
Since 2011, UNESCO-IBE has been partnering with four universities – the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) for Africa; Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU, UAE) for the Arab region; Vytautas Magnus University (VMU, Lithuania) for East Europe-Central Asia; and Catholic University of Uruguay (UCU) for Latin America and the Caribbean – to offer accredited Master’s and/or Postgraduate Diploma courses in Curriculum, which have trained approximately 400 curriculum practitioners from 80 countries. Since 2021, UNESCO- IBE has been supporting the establishment of new Master’s in Curriculum: at University Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD, Senegal) for West Africa; at University Denis Sassou Nguesso (UDSN, Congo Brazzaville) for Central Africa; and at Eduardo Mondlane University (EMU, Mozambique) for Lusophone African countries.
With the primary objective of developing a critical mass of curriculum specialists, the training programmes aim to equip learners with the following key competencies:
of the importance of high-quality curricula and curriculum development processes
to adopting effective curriculum policies
- improve curriculum processes and products
national capacity in curriculum by training relevant key actors
In line with Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goal 4, the programmes strive to reframe the visions of curriculum, education, and society. Based on a holistic and systemic approach to curriculum, the courses address curriculum dimensions and issues and enhance the coherence and quality of education by bridging the gaps between curriculum design, implementation, and evaluation.
Rather than imposing predefined models or prescribing universally applicable solutions, the courses facilitate access to a wide range of expertise and resources and promote regional and inter-regional knowledge sharing. This provides participants with exposure to various perspectives and experiences, enabling them to identify challenges and apply customized solutions to their specific context and needs.
Core training materials and modules
Participants
The Master’s/Diploma courses are designed for individuals with a keen interest in curriculum issues. Our alumni include curriculum specialists, teacher educators, graduate-serving teachers, school inspectors, examination officers, researchers, educational planners, and policymakers. A significant number of the alumni members are exercising the function of national curriculum directors in their respective countries.
Geographic scope
Impact
Graduate surveys indicate that impacts include a deeper understanding of curriculum at the core of transformation and innovation, broadening of critical horizons and ideas, and exposure to new approaches to curriculum and education. 98.5% of graduates have been able to apply the competencies acquired as a result of the programmes to their professional context. Three long-term impacts were explicitly identified:
- Enhanced competencies in supporting holistic curriculum development and change;
- Improved professional practices in implementing the process of curriculum renewal; and
- Progression in professional contexts
Quality and Sustainability
UNESCO-IBE organizes Master/Diploma partner meetings to serve as a platform for peer learning, the exchange of experiences and lessons learned, and the review of program outcomes. A common Quality Assurance mechanism has been developed to ensure the programmes meet the required quality standards across all parties involved.
This programme empowers us to take action in curriculum reforms carried out in our countries.
