The ABC of curriculum evaluation in higher education

Abstract

The curriculum is an institutional document that defines the ideal of a professional. It is a complex pedagogical instrument because it organizes the students, teachers and authorities’ work in an educational institution. To ensure its validity and relevance, it is necessary to evaluate it. In this process, evidences about its components are gathered, value judgments are established and, based on them, decision-making is guided in order to improve it. Before evaluating the curriculum, it is necessary to identify what is required to value about it, define objectives, select specific methods and relevant techniques and instruments, and consider context, time, as well as human, financial and material resources. Although the evaluation does not produce immediate changes, it is an impulse to direct the benefits towards students, teachers, candidates, the educational project, the institution and, of course, society. A good curriculum evaluation practice allows to use the results to improve educational projects; therefore, it is necessary to conduct the evaluation with transparency, in accordance with academic principles. Finally, curriculum evaluation must be duly documented.

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