Department of Curriculum Studies and Teachers’ Professional Development

 About

Department of Curriculum Studies and Teachers’ Professional Development is one of the three senior departments running under the College of Education and Behavioral Science of Arsi University. There are total of eight (8) active programs running under this department (2 undergraduate programs, 4 postgraduate programs, and 1 higher diploma and 1 postgraduate diploma certificate programs). The detail regarding the same is indicated below. As it can also be seen from the staff profile indicated below, the department is running by well experienced and PhD holder senior academicians.

Vision of the Department

The vision of the department is playing its roles in producing effective and knowledgeable educational professionals that will make the college of education and behavioral science of Arsi University among the best colleges of Education and Behavioral Sciences in East Africa, and one among globally acceptable Educational Colleges by 2025; and this is in line with the vision of the college of Education and Behavioral Science and that of Arsi University as well.

Mission of the Department

Department of Curriculum Studies and Teachers’ Professional Development under the college of Education and Behavioral Science will play its significant roles in enhancing and promoting active and reflective teaching learning approach in which the learners will actively be engaged in their own learning. Thus, it will significantly work in producing independent, knowledgeable and ethical graduates that will significantly add to the national goal which is transforming the nation in all aspects. Moreover, the department will work in conducting local and national researches that target solving the challenges that encountered educational quality at all levels which is directly tied with solving the socioeconomic challenges of the society in general.  

Active programs running under the department:

1. Undergraduate
2. BA in Lifelong Learning and Community Development (LLCD) – regular program
3. Adult Education and Community Development (AECD) –  summer program

• Postgraduate
• MA in Adult Education & Community Development
• MA in Curriculum & Instruction
• MA in International and Comparative Education
• MA in Multicultural Education
• Diploma Certificates
• Higher Diploma Program (HDP) – a program for academic staff

Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching (PGDT) – summer program

About undergraduate program (LLCD)

Executive Summary of the Program Curriculum

The revised curriculum of Adult Education and Community Development has its degree nomenclature “Lifelong Learning and Community Development (LLCD). The duration of the program is four (4) academic years, which are eight (8) semesters. It has total of 57 courses (29 major courses, 14 supportive, and 14 common courses). The curriculum also has a total of 78 credit hours for major courses, and 35 credit hours each for supportive and common courses. Hence, the revised curriculum has a total of 148 credit hours that the respective students will take during the indicated four (4) academic years. In relation to graduation requirement, the respective students should take 148 credit hours to get graduated. Hence, as this curriculum has no elective courses, the minimum credit hour that the respective students need to take is equal to the maximum credit hour which is 148. In terms of cumulative points, it is stated in the curriculum that the respective students should score minimum of 242 cumulative points (C. P).  Credit hour distribution for each semester, which is in line with the university legislation in terms of maximum credit hour to be given per semester, is clearly stated in this curriculum. Course syllabus/ outline for each course, admission requirements, staffs’ profile, and quality assurancemechanismsare clearly stated. Semester course breakdown and model of course delivery for the program (parallel/block) is clearly identified in the curriculum. Attendance/Course Polices for each course are incorporated in the curriculum.

Rationale of the Program

The department of Adult Education was initially opened in 1986 in the then Bahir Dar Teachers’ College. Besides, the department of Adult and Non-formal education (diploma level) was established at Jimma Teachers’ College in 1999. However, the program at Bahir Dar Teachers’ College was terminated in 1996 following the decision to transform the training of teachers from Diploma programs into Bachelor Degree programs. The program was re-opened at Arsi University in 2016 after 12 years of interruption. In 2016, national needs assessment was conducted by experts of Arsi University, Pedagogy department and based on need assessment results, national development agendas, and adult education directions; the program is reopened with enhanced scope and level of qualification. i.e., the program is raised to degree level and integrates adult education with community development. The program gained wider acceptance by most of the Ethiopian higher education institutions and currently, over 12 universities are offering adult education and community development program.

Driven by the constant flux of the globe, the recommendations of the Ethiopian education roadmap study, the directions of MoSHE and subsequent and intensive discussions among scholars in the field of adult education and lifelong learning, there appears a demand to revise the existing curriculum and shift the nomenclature of the program. It is revealed that some of the courses in the current AECD program are less relevant; some indispensible courses are missed; some of the contents are unnecessarily repeated and need to be reduced; some courses need more practical components and field attachments.

Cognizant of this, the department was in a course of curriculum revision. Coincidently, DVV International, MoE’s ANFE department and UNESCO jointly organized a curriculum review event and the existing three-year curriculum was revised (some courses merged, some courses added and some coursed omitted). Shortly after universities revised their three years’ AECD curriculum, the national education roadmap study disclosed the need to extend the existing Bachelor program to four years. Accordingly, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education demanded universities to incorporate common courses and to make their curriculum a four-year long curriculum. To this end, the ministry called for experts from Arsi University, Madda Walabu University and Bule Hora University to revise the AECD curriculum. Consequently, the curriculum is changed in to a four-year program, new courses were added in place of previously provided common courses such as Special and Inclusive Education, Entrepreneurship, Communicative English, ICT, Basic Writing Skills, Psychology etc. and this document was prepared.

Considering the newly introduced courses and the existing national labor force demand, and graduates future employability, there appears a need to shift the name of the program to Lifelong Learning and Community Development (LLCD). It is also noted that lifelong learning has paramount importance in speeding up Ethiopia’s economic development as efforts of poverty reduction necessitate literate and skilled citizens. This strong association of lifelong learning with the country’s economic development also requires experts who are capable of integrating lifelong learning with the community development endeavors.

Program Goals and Objectives

1. Program Goals

The program of Lifelong Learning and Community Development will work to produce competent and committed adult educators who can serve as development agent in the country’s endeavor for development and transformation. Thus, the major goals of the undergraduate program in Lifelong Learning and Community Development are:

• To develop basic and practical skills in lifelong learning and community development practices
• To establish in students an appreciation of the importance of Andragogy and community development philosophies and principles
• To develop the ability to apply the learned skills for solving practical community problems; and
• To provide a wide range of transferable skills to the graduates

• Program ObjectivesGeneral Objective of The Program

Essentially, the general objective of this program is to produce lifelong learning and community development professionals and community development experts, leaders and researchers who can address community demands and challenges through critical analysis of community institutions’ and local environments (political, economic, socio-cultural, and technological). Moreover, the program is aimed to produce democratic, visionary, and innovative, change oriented and professionally committed lifelong learning and community development agents that can hold leadership responsibilities under the existing social contexts.

1. Specific Objectives of the Program

Thus, the specific objectives of the undergraduate program in lifelong learning and community development are to:

1. Produce skilled and well-trained human power in lifelong learning and community development professionals that are capable of taking up positions in the growing demand of several socio- economic sectors;
2. Produce lifelong learning and community development planners and managers who can initiate changes, innovations and developments by addressing local and regional needs and realities;
3. Produce lifelong learning and community development planners and mangers that can generate, manage and utilize community resources effectively and efficiently;
4. Develop capabilities for the provision of consultancy and technical services as well as short-term specialized training to both public and private sectors; 
5. Produce professionals who are responsive and effective in working with others as well as capable of making and implementing decisions;
6. Produce professionals capable of searching and developing opportunities as well as solving community problems;
7. Produce professionals who are able to face the challenges of today’s and tomorrows’ highly complex and competitive world;
8. Produce change agents that can mobilize and involve the local communities and thereby strengthen development endeavor and community relationship;
9. Train students who can design and apply the principles of lifelong learning and community development to identify and solve societal problems related to environment, agriculture, health, and teaching.