MODELING CHANGE IN CURRICULUM - A TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE

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, mo del to guide the curriculum evaluation and change process is offered b ased on total quality management (TQM) concepts. The basic educational process steps are first mapped by using many of the traditional servi ce process activities. This step includes the defining of customer req uirements, expectations and specifications, and their relationship wit h changing educational mission statements. The mapping phase is follow ed by a general measurement methodology to allow for assessment of the level of customer satisfaction, with particular emphasis on the use o f 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 improv ement activities.