Symposium 3: Internationalising the Curriculum - an e-Learning Case Study

Abstract

The case study examines some of the issues surrounding the delivery of a postgraduate programme in project management in construction within an international context. The programme is offered as distance-learning and is entirely delivered via the University of Salford’s virtual learning environment. The present programme was launched in October 2001 and has recruited students a number of countries around the world.

Developing a curriculum for an e-learning postgraduate programme is a challenge. However, designing an e[1]curriculum for a programme that focuses on a highly vocational discipline and is also intended to be of value to students across the world is an even bigger challenge. The issues that have been addressed in the development of the programme are:

• E-pedagogy for a vocational discipline
• Structuring material to support international learners
• Accommodating the cultural diversity of learners
• Developing assessment for different application contexts

The case study will present an explanation of how these issues were addressed along with some of the debate that led to the final solution.