Unpacking curriculum transformation in Higher Educational Institutions in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world: Insights from the DECART project

International audience The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Higher Education (HE), creating extreme volatility,uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) and highlighted the necessity for the HE system to becrisis-ready, agile and adaptable. The multiple disruptions facing HEIs posed unprecedentedchallenges for leaders and highlighted the necessity for curriculum transformation to ensureresponsiveness in a VUCA world. The aim of this qualitative research study is to identify the disruptionsimpacting HEIs with respect to curriculum, and then critically explore what curriculum transformationentails. The ‘what’, ‘why’, ‘how’ and ‘when’ of curriculum transformation is unpacked. To collect data,a virtual workshop of academics from IMT Atlantique (France), Reykjavik University (Iceland), VilniusUniversity (Lithuania), RWTH Aachen University (Germany), Del Institute of Technology (Indonesia),and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), who are project partners in the Designing HigherEducation Curricula for Agility, Resilience and Transformation (DECART) research and innovationproject funded under the European Commission’s ERASMUS+ programme, was conducted. Theworkshop was held in May 2024. Participants were purposively selected from the project partneruniversities. In the DECART project, the sharing of innovative curricula and their VUCA properties iscentral, as well as developing curriculum cooperation modes that are resilient, and ultimatelystrengthening leadership capabilities for driving curriculum transformation. The aim is to alsodisseminate innovative curricula structures, curriculum design methods and leadership tools. Thefocus group data collected through the workshop was analysed using thematic analysis. The findingshighlight that disruptions experienced by the participants with respect to curriculum, includepandemics, natural hazards, digitilization, and generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). The diverse andcomplex understandings of curriculum transformation include innovation, adaptation, technologyintegration, and changes to be better. The findings provide insights for HE curriculum and programmedesigners, and leaders.