Modeling change in curriculum: A total quality management perspective

Abstract

Some of the impetus behind changes in academic programmes comes from a growing awareness of the competitive pressures facing education and a redefinition of what quality in education means. In this paper, a model to guide the curriculum evaluation and change process is offered based on total quality management (TQM) concepts. The basic educational process steps are first mapped by using many of the traditional service process activities. This step includes the defining of customer requirements, expectations and specifications, and their relationship with changing educational mission statements. The mapping phase is followed by a general measurement methodology to allow for assessment of the level of customer satisfaction, with particular emphasis on the use of tools which will form a basis for on-going and continual improvement. Introspection of the educational process via this framework provides a guide for curriculum evaluation and the associated iterative improvement activities.