DECART members attending Project Meeting 5 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) recently hosted a three-day meeting for the DECART (Designing Higher Education Curricula for Agility, Resilience, and Transformation) project, focusing on curriculum transformation and leadership. Led by UKZN academics Professor Cecile Gerwel Proches, Professor Macdonald Kanyangale, and Professor Angela James, the discussions explored strategies to enhance curriculum resilience and agility in higher education. The event brought together academics, executive leaders, and international participants from France, Indonesia, Iceland, Lithuania, and Germany. DECART, coordinated by IMT Atlantique and funded by the French Erasmus+ Agency, aims to improve curriculum relevance, strengthen international collaboration, and foster interdisciplinary partnerships.
Key discussions highlighted the challenges of curriculum transformation, including bureaucratic structures, communication gaps, and the need for continuous staff development. A serious game, designed by Professor Roger Waldeck and Professor Siegfried Rouvrais from IMT Atlantique, was introduced as an interactive tool to help universities enhance curriculum resilience. Participants engaged in hands-on sessions to test its effectiveness. UKZN executives also presented on the University’s internationalization efforts, research priorities, and new initiatives, such as the upcoming Bachelor of Medical Sciences in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The event reinforced the urgency of adapting higher education curricula to meet evolving global demands.
