Curriculum Design and Students’ Learning Experience in Post COVID-19 Era in Nigeria

Abstract

The continuous quest for effective and global best practice in curriculum design to promote appropriate learning and teaching experiences is still not without some conundrums, particularly in the context of higher institutions of learning in Nigeria. The current study pursues the argument that curriculum design has major implications for students’ learning experience in the post-COVID-19 era in Nigeria. Remarking on the discourse of curriculum studies, not much attention has been given to the nexus between curriculum design and students’ learning experience in post-COVID-19 era in Nigeria. A total of 16 undergraduate students were recruited purposely and conveniently for interview from the Faculty of Management Science of the Lagos State University, Nigeria. NVivo (v.12) qualitative software was employed to identify themes and sub-themes which were analysed with content qualitative analytical tool. Expert contributions, quality assurance, practical knowledge and innovative contents were shown as global trends in curriculum design. In terms of the role of curriculum design in students’ learning experience, stimulating environment and the creation of higher thinking and learning experience were revealed, and the implications of curriculum design for higher education development in post-COVID-19were found to include improved e-learning and teaching experience and improvement in technology and innovation-aided teaching and learning. The study calls for the overhauling of Nigeria’s higher education curriculum in tandem with global best practices for innovative students’ learning experience.

Received: 5 September 2022 / Accepted: 17 December 2022 / Published: 5 January 2023