An Academics Guide to Approaching Bioscience Curricula Design: Stakeholders, Material and Assessment Choice, and...

Area of Science:

• Bioscience Education
• Curriculum Design
• Higher Education Pedagogy

Background:

• Higher education aims to produce work-ready graduates.
• Bioscience graduates have diverse career paths.
• Curriculum design is often led by subject specialists lacking pedagogical expertise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a practical guide for designing and redesigning undergraduate bioscience curricula.
• To address the challenge of preparing bioscience students for a multitude of career pathways.
• To integrate employability skills with scientific proficiency in curriculum development.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing pedagogical principles of teaching, learning, and assessment.
• Analyzing the needs of learners, employers, and accrediting bodies.
• Drawing on experiences from redesigning a Biomedical Science undergraduate degree.

Main Results:

• Key considerations for program structure, learning delivery, and assessment strategies.
• Balancing subject matter expertise with pedagogical theory.
• Ensuring curriculum design enhances diverse postgraduation career opportunities.

Conclusions:

• Effective bioscience curriculum design requires a blend of subject specialization and pedagogical understanding.
• Integrating employability into the curriculum is crucial for graduate success.
• A structured approach to curriculum development benefits both students and educators.