Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia
Abstract: In 1996 the principal author propounded a theory of open system thinking and learning (McKenzie, 1996), which sought to refocus the art of adult education onto the emerging needs of learners in the 21st century. The authors of the present paper apply this perspective in an exploratory rethink of the evolving undergraduate curriculum within their Faculty. They ask what theoretical frameworks might be called on to steer this evolution in a way that ensures graduates will be well equipped for their various futures. The curious phenomenon of two almost rival courses in farm management offered within their faculty provides a launch-pad for some deeper conjecturing about a ‘fitness for purpose test’ equal to the task of evaluating their teaching programs. What emerges is not so much a well-formed evaluation tool as a number of design perspectives proposed for undergraduate professional formation curricula.
Keywords: Management education; curriculum development; ontology.