Quality Assurance in Sustainability- Focused Business Education: case study: Knowledge Alliance for Business Opportunities in SDGs Project
Tuominen, Tanja (2023)
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023052915480
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023052915480
Tiivistelmä
This thesis examines the process of curriculum creation and development in sustainability-focused education. The focus was on quality assurance within the curriculum creation process. The SDG4BIZ-project was taken as a case study for this thesis. The objective was to evaluate and give recommendations on how to enhance quality assurance of the project’s deliverables.
The main research method used in this thesis was participant observation. In addition, field notes were gathered from the project´s steering committee meetings and pre-piloting phase over a period of 11 months. Data analysis also included other materials and documents related to the project, such as the project description, quality plan, and evaluation plan.
The literature review focused on two topics, sustainability in HEIs and the SDGs and quality assurance in higher education. Based on the relevant elements of literature review, a conceptual framework was created. Finally, all the collected data was analysed against the conceptual framework. The findings highlighted the importance of modern teaching and learning methods and technologies, teachers’ competences and skills, and inclusion of sustainability in internal, external, and institutional QA practices.
Based on the analysis conducted in this thesis, the project´s quality assurance related principles and planned actions were evaluated as relevant and comprehensive, and the observations confirmed that they were also carried out well in practice. A few recommendations were made regarding the usability of the learning platform, dissemination of the curriculum, and teachers’ education. The current quality assurance practices combined with the recommendations given in the thesis will result in higher quality deliverables that are scalable for a wide use.
The main research method used in this thesis was participant observation. In addition, field notes were gathered from the project´s steering committee meetings and pre-piloting phase over a period of 11 months. Data analysis also included other materials and documents related to the project, such as the project description, quality plan, and evaluation plan.
The literature review focused on two topics, sustainability in HEIs and the SDGs and quality assurance in higher education. Based on the relevant elements of literature review, a conceptual framework was created. Finally, all the collected data was analysed against the conceptual framework. The findings highlighted the importance of modern teaching and learning methods and technologies, teachers’ competences and skills, and inclusion of sustainability in internal, external, and institutional QA practices.
Based on the analysis conducted in this thesis, the project´s quality assurance related principles and planned actions were evaluated as relevant and comprehensive, and the observations confirmed that they were also carried out well in practice. A few recommendations were made regarding the usability of the learning platform, dissemination of the curriculum, and teachers’ education. The current quality assurance practices combined with the recommendations given in the thesis will result in higher quality deliverables that are scalable for a wide use.