Project Curriculum Information System

Duration: 1 March 2024 until now
Project type: ICT
Organisation: Academic Affairs, Innovation & Projects

Reason

When setting up a new program and (re)developing a curriculum, a lot of information is collected and exchanged. This includes learning outcomes, learning objectives and learning activities that must be recorded in Education and Examination Regulations, Osiris and study guides. Currently, this information is often stored in a fragmented or incomplete manner, which prevents a complete picture of a curriculum. Radboud University is starting to prepare a tender for a Curriculum Information System (CIS), in which educational developers, teachers and timetablers work together on the (re)development of curricula.

With a CIS, we gain insight into curricula, information for study guides/accreditation, finances and timetabling. This contributes to a better balance and quality of education and educational organisation. Furthermore, by recording curriculum information in a central system, fewer errors arise due to less manual work. This allows us to improve the quality of information management. Finally, through better insight into the curriculum, we can enable students to take control of their own learning path.

Approach and planning

Preliminary research (2024)

In the first half of 2024, a preliminary survey of the needs of lecturers, students and staff from the educational organisation within the university took place. This showed that within education, from both the education practice and the supporting process, there is a great need for support for the process of curriculum preparation and clearer recording of the curriculum using a curriculum information system. These needs were also previously identified in the Optimal Educational Planning Programme (2022-2023) and again explicitly identified among all faculties and departments, students and staff in 2024 by the Smarter Academic Year / Curriculum Information System project.

Continuation (2025 and beyond)

In the second half of 2024, the business case and project proposal was finalised for 2025 and beyond. The new project proposal includes further preparations for a tender, the execution of the tender and the implementation of a CIS. This project proposal was submitted in the I-portfolio board of the Information and Library Services division and prioritised there (November ‘24). This means that further preparations will be made for the procurement and implementation of the CIS by 2025.

Benefits of a Curriculum Information System

When we facilitate the curriculum preparation process in a better way, we gain a better overview of education programmes. This also makes it easier for us to gain insight into the content, seek cooperation between programmes and faculties, and get better control on the costs of our education. The latter is essential, especially in times of financial cutbacks. For this reason, the CIS project seeks cooperation with other initiatives within Radboud University, such as the project Business operations optimisation process and the task forces educational organisation and educational innovation.

A curriculum information system as a building block for future proof education

Recently, Radboud University, like many other educational institutions, has been faced with budget cuts in education. Radboud University is also struggling with the consequences of these cutbacks: expiring contracts and higher workloads are immediately noticeable for staff. Can Radboud University handle the task of preparing and implementing a new system? The answer is yes. It is certainly not easy, but it is the only way out to get our educational organisation in order.

Information manager Pien Walraven explains in a short video the advantages of a CIS and how it can help in creating a foundation in curriculum development.

Watch the video

Radboud University stands for high-quality (organised) education. As an organisation, we can only offer this if we facilitate this education well. Facilitating education starts with facilitating the curriculum design process. Until now, we have not facilitated teachers and educational developers in this, resulting in manual work for both academic staff and professional services. Subsequently, this makes it difficult for students, which also causes them to experience barriers in organising their study, taking control of their own learning path and creating a balance between study and other activities (work, for instance). In the video, students explain their experiences with curriculum information.

Experiences of students about curriculum information

Results

Reports with a summary of the results and background information are available in Dutch. Visit de Dutch webpage for more information.

Contact information

If you would like to learn more about the Curriculum Information System (CIS) project or contribute ideas, contact project leader Dianne Akkerhuis (dianne.akkerhuis@ru.nl).