Evolution of environmental chemistry study program curricula in tertiary education: a case study and general...

Area of Science:

• Multidisciplinary studies
• Higher education curriculum development
• Environmental and health sciences

Background:

• New study programs require rapid adaptation to evolving student, societal, and job market needs.
• Multidisciplinary curricula present unique challenges in program management and evolution.
• The
• Environment and Health
• program at Masaryk University, established in 2019, serves as a case study for this adaptation process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To share experiences in managing and adapting a new multidisciplinary study program.
• To analyze the impact of student and alumni feedback on curriculum improvement.
• To outline a framework for incorporating short-, medium-, and long-term feedback loops.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of feedback from students and alumni of the
• Environment and Health
• program.
• Categorization of feedback into short-term (within a year), medium-term (several years), and long-term (decades) loops.
• Evaluation of program management strategies in balancing original vision with adaptive changes.

Main Results:

• Feedback loops are crucial for continuous curriculum enhancement.
• Short-term feedback informs immediate adjustments, while long-term vision requires proactive planning.
• Balancing immediate needs with future societal and commercial demands is essential for program relevance.

Conclusions:

• Successful management of multidisciplinary programs hinges on effectively integrating diverse feedback.
• Predicting future needs is paramount for long-term program viability and attractiveness.
• Continuous adaptation, informed by multi-level feedback, is key to educational program success.