Redesigning Higher Education Curriculum for Sustainable Development

KIPKOECH Lydia CherutoKOROSS Rachel ChepchumbaROTUMOI Joseph Tuitoek

Introduction

Education and higher education is key to development

Government, parents, individuals ,organization continued to invest (finance)-why?

degree and extent of the sociocultural, socio-economic, and political improvement is influenced by level of education

Education is the most promising path for individuals, societies & nations to realize better, more productive lives

Education is the primary driver of economic development.

Role of education

What is the role of education in realization of vision 2030/sustainable development ?

Improving literacyEntrenching education in the constitutionAccess to education (fpe, fse)Revitalizing HELB, laptops for studentsExpansion of tertiary /Universities

Cont,

Universities have to meaningfully contribute to sustainable development.

They have many challenges arising from increased student enrolment, liberalization of education system and globalization of education in general.

universities have been challenged to maintain quality in curriculum development and delivery.

cont.

Universities are hard-hit by constraining working conditions(lecture rooms/equipment/lack of staff)

Higher Education must address challenges affecting humanity such as human rights abuse, poverty reduction, conflict, e.t.c

concerns about the quality of education universities have the responsibility, to

integrate sustainable development into all their teaching, research, innovation and outreach

The need for redesigning the curriculum

To enable institutions of learning to contribute to sustainable development.- address needs of society

Focus should be on training entrepreneurs for example LUMS university in Pakistan

Focus ought to be on provision quality of education offered

Need to improve infrastructure of higher education institutions

The world has also become a global village hence institutions must adjust in order for them to remain competitive and relevant. teaching should be transformative in nature, suggesting the explicit consideration of ethics, values Teaching by nature is about changing student’s ideas and influencing behaviour

DR. JIM YONG KIM, President of the World Bank Group ,asserts that;

Every child should have the opportunity not only to go to school but to acquire the knowledge and skills - she needs to lead a healthy, productive life, care for herself and her family, and become an empowered citizen. At the national level, countries need workforces with the skills and competencies required to keep farms and factories producing, create jobs, fuel innovation and competitiveness, and drive economic growth that benefits everyone’.  

Universities in Africa must endeavor to compete with their counterparts in the west who have particularly benefitted from brain drain

.There is need for curriculum redesign to incorporate emphasis on innovation that will not only benefit the individuals and institutions but the economic transformation.

 The education institutions should utilize information

communication technology (ICT) to enhance development. This is through the establishment of ihubs and incubation centres that nurture innovators.

university-industry collaboration can also expand the relevance of research carried out in public institutions,).

  

Education should enhance peace and solve conflicts. Education strengthens inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making promote human rights and rule of law

Therefore, good quality education enables people to make informed judgements about issues that concern them and engage more actively and constructively in national and local political debates.

Education is a key mechanism promoting tolerance to diversity.

strategies for sustainable development

Integration of key issues in the existing curriculum

Training and ResearchInitiating projects which address key

sustainability issuesInitiating courses at university level that

address the key MDGs and SDGs directlyUniversities and colleges inter disciplinary

relations

Recommendations

Institutions of higher learning to adopt some of the models that have been successfully implemented in some institutions

The curriculum to be redesigned to enhance sustainability by encouraging innovation, new ideas and change that will bring about new ways of doing things in organizations.

Integration of key issues in the curriculum by focusing on factors that have inhibited achievement since independence

Cont,

Building corporate image and establish a curriculum that addresses government’s development policies and strategies.

the curriculum developed ought to encourage the learners to produce knowledge , think , reason, and use their minds well.

The industries to support research projects in order to influence the curriculum design to be responsive to private sector demands and job market

Cont.

Inter university collaborations ought to be encouraged and emphasized

education for Sustainable Development is to help people develop attitudes, skills, and knowledge to make education a life long experience

Harmonization of curriculum of higher educational institutions and emphasis on quality

Universities should champion use of ICTProvision of lifelong learning