Curriculum Change in Universities

Abstract

Many universities have begun to introduce curriculum innovation and change to facilitate the curricular integration of generic skills underlying education for sustainable development (ESD). However, the literature and research in the area to date show few successful examples of comprehensive large-scale curriculum change. From the literature on curriculum change in universities, we identify the conditions that have been reported to facilitate such change. We then report on two surveys that explored academic perceptions of the conditions that influence curriculum change, one of a sample of Australian academics and the other of a sample of international academics involved with ESD. We discuss the survey findings and outline implications for those attempting to introduce ESD curriculum change at universities.