The curricula mapping and learning outcomes review has been carried out with the purpose of putting students at the center of the academic offer and improve the learning experience of students enrolled at the Colleges of Basic Education in Kurdish universities.
First step of the process was the collection on the syllabi of the courses taught in the fields of the humanities and social sciences in Basic Education Colleges in Kurdish universities, in order to assess the coherence of learning outcomes across the programmes. The purpose was to define a range of objectives for the different courses in the fields of humanities and social sciences and innovate teaching methodologies, so as to align courses with the curricula’s overall aim to actively engage students in the learning process.
Based on the review of the syllabi of the courses offered in the Colleges of Basic Education in the Kurdish universities, and on the training activities carried out, the Consortium produced a list of recommendations for revising and re-focusing the curricula’s learning outcomes. This activity is in line with the project’s objectives to provide teachers and staff of the Colleges of Basic Education with a range of useful teaching materials and approaches in the fields of humanities and social sciences in BE.
While the courses’ learning outcomes emphasize key competences that shape the student’s experience, the Consortium has also identified 8 key macro-objectives for guiding teachers and staff at the Colleges of Basic Education in the process of re-focusing and realigning curricula and syllabi’s learning outcomes:
- Developing the ability of students to analyze, evaluate, and interpret information and arguments from various sources critically.
- Providing students with the tools to learn to express ideas clearly and persuasively through various mediums such as writing, speaking, and visual representation. This includes the ability to tailor communication for different audiences and purposes.
- Equipping students with the skills necessary to conduct independent research, including formulating research questions, locating and evaluating sources, and synthesizing information to produce scholarly work.
- Enabling the creation of a diverse environment so that students can gain an understanding of various cultures, perspectives, and historical contexts, fostering empathy and appreciation for cultural differences (Cultural Awareness and Appreciation).
- Making the classroom a safe space for exploring ethical issues and develop an awareness of different roles and responsibilities as future teachers and global citizens.
- Encouraging students to integrate knowledge and approaches from multiple disciplines within the humanities and social sciences to address complex problems and gain a holistic understanding of human behavior and society.
- Facilitating students’ engagement in activities that promote civic responsibility, such as community service, advocacy, and participation in democratic processes.
- Cultivating a curiosity for learning and developing strategies for continued intellectual growth beyond formal education.
Learning Outcomes Review
Learning Outcomes in the Humanities and Social Sciences. The Consortium decided to focus on the following intersecting subject areas:
- History
- Women’s Studies
In the field of the teaching methodologies in Basic Education, the Consortium has decided to focus on the following intersecting subject areas:
- Active Learning & IT
- Special Needs and languages
- Languages in Teaching
- Hybrid Internship Program for the Development of Prospective Teachers: University Pedagogical Training and Teaching Practice in Schools of Basic Education
