1. ALTERNATIVE APPROACH FOR DESIGNING CURRICULA IN GENERAL DEGREE STUDY PROGRAMS: A LESSON FROM SRI LANKA Prof. Lal Mervin Dharmasiri, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

2. A term of ‘curriculum’ should be taken to mean ‘the organization of sequences of learning experiences in view of producing desired learning outcomes’ (Tawil and Harley, 2004) Curriculum Development (CD) is an vital requirement for updating available or newly designed curricular and is an process of improving the curriculum

3. Consist of analysis (situation, need analysis, task analysis), Design (objectives and design curricular), Selecting (chose of appropriate learning outcomes and teaching methods, chose of appropriate assessment method), Formation (formation of the curriculum implementation and evaluating committee) and Review (curriculum review committee) (CaDSFR). CD Approach

4. Objectives To apply an alternative approach for designing of new curricular for the General Degree Study Programs (GDSP) at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

5. 1.SWOT, 2.Gap 3.Need analyses Problem identification Employability of present graduates. lack of institutional training, outdated curricula, lack of proficiency in English, lack of soft skills, Inadequate IT knowledge Attitude of graduates towards overestimation of the quality of degree. Identified several gaps and weaknesses which are detrimental to the employability of present graduates. The need analysis has proven that CD is of the FSS is essential and urgent task.

6. (a) Selecting and appointing an Educationist and Subject Specialists for each subject streams of the faculty from outside the university and they were assigned for the task, (b) Conducting a workshop for Curriculum Planning, (c) Conducting mini-workshops at Department level for discussing bench mark and other issues related to CD, (d) Formulating a Common Framework for the CD and (e) Finalizing the CD. Stakeholders’ views and consultation from outside the university have provided excellent feedback and support for the CD A new approach of five folds for conducting the CD process. The CaDSFER process has been applied for the CD.

7. 1. Workshop on Curriculum Planning (WCP) 2.Workshop on Designing Curricular (WDC) 3.Workshop on Setting Common Framework For CD (WSCF) 4. Workshop on Course Formulation (WCF) 5 Workshop on Course Sequencing and Finalizing Curriculum (WCSFC) Workshops for CD

8. 1. Workshop on Curriculum Planning (WCP) 2. Workshop on Designing Curricular (WDC) Objectives 1. To explain the CD process for reviewing the existent GDSP of the faculty, 2. To outline the graduate profile and identify relevant learning outcomes of the degree programs Objectives 1. To discus benchmark studies (if available), 2. To formulate desired graduate profile, 3. To prepare contents of the degree programs in details

9. Essential pre-request to prepare a ‘Desired Graduate Profile’ The graduate would be able to acquire new knowledge in respective social sciences fields. To achieve this goal, student centered learning provides a novel approach particularly through interactive learning. Skills development helps undergraduates to use knowledge and practice according to the principles of study. The undergraduates must acquire a variety of skills,as `key skills’. `core skills’, `generic skills’, `personal skills’ and `employability skills ‘tip-off skills as `capabilities’ and `personal competencies’

10. Objectives 1. To evaluating and monitoring the ongoing curriculum development of the faculty, 2. To introducing new course unit/ s for development of different skills of the undergraduates, 3 To find possibility of including research methodology, internship/ institutional training and any other course units as optional subjects, 4. To setting up a common framework for the FSS. 3. WORKSHOP ON SETTING COMMON FRAMEWORK FOR CD (WSCF)

11. Objectives a). Mapping the identified learning activities and time durations with the intended programme outcomes that had been established during the previous workshops. b). Removal of unnecessary repetition of learning activities, combining related learning activities, and finalizing learning activities and time. c). Formulation of courses based on the finalized learning activities and time durations. 4. Workshop on Course Formulation (WCF)

12. 5. Workshop on Course Sequencing and Finalizing Curriculum (WCSFC) Objectives a). Finalizing courses that had been identified during the previous workshop. b). Sequencing the courses in a logical order c). Finalizing the assessment methods for the courses. d). Formulating the revised (draft) Curriculum

13. CompetenceCategories Skills Writing skills in in the medium of study Reading skills in a second language Communication skills in other national language Creative skills Music, dance, arts, photography, filming etc, Knowledge and skills Mathematics and Statistics Critical thinking, Research methodology Knowledge in Social sciences History, Archaeological heritage and Society Values and Spirituality Ethics and values as taught in major religion Spirituality and meditation of success in life Conflict resolution and peace Social harmony Knowledge in Natural sciences Basic science, Bio diversity Nutrition and health Knowledge in culture Cultural heritage, Religious heritage Cultural values and norms Appreciation of literature Creative writing An Open Matrix for Curriculum Design

14. A novel approach of five folds that applied for designing part of the curricular of the FSS and the process is near to completion. As a different program, the experiences CD process of the FSS may useful for the respective parties who involve with CD.

15. Thanking you