Motivation
The curriculum of the ‘Immunology & Host Defence’ specialisation of the Master of Biomedical Sciences consists of a mix of separate courses without coherence, which hinders students' depth of knowledge. In addition, not only is cohesion is lacking between the courses, but also a clear build-up in difficulty, which may question the effectiveness of the specialisation. How can coherence between courses be increased without students losing the ability to take the courses separately as well?
Desired solution
Esmeralda and Anniek's research project focuses on developing a curriculum with a clear structure in difficulty. They aim for a curriculum in which the courses fit together seamlessly and can be taken individually at the same time. Ensuring that courses are well connected creates a coherent programme that prepares students for the research field. This approach provides both depth and the opportunity to take courses separately.
Plan of action
Esmeralda and Anniek start their project with an evaluation of the current course offering within the specialisation. In doing so, they involve their students, the Master's Education Management Team, course coordinators and lecturers within the specialisation courses. At the same time, they engage in literature research on developing a flexible curriculum with depth and enter into discussions with experts in the field. They will then compile the findings from the evaluation, the literature review and the discussions with experts into a report. Finally, Esmeralda and Anniek will work out the further implementation of the specialisation in cooperation with the experts.