Theory and Practice in the Curriculum

Theory and Practice in the Curriculum

Designing a Model for the Afghan University Curriculum

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Sarvar Haqparast 1
kourosh Fathi Vajargah 2
Mahboobe Arefi 3
Maryam Hosseini Largani 4
1 PhD student in Curriculum Planning, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University
2 استاد دانشگاه شهید بهشتیFaculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran
3 Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran
4 Assistant Professor, Institute for Curriculum Studies in Higher Education, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/tpcj.2025.225038
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate how the hidden curriculum influences the development of clinical empathy among internal medicine residents in Iranian medical universities. This qualitative study employed a grounded theory approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and purposeful criterion sampling was used until theoretical saturation was achieved. Accordingly, 22 internal medicine residents from medical universities in Tehran were interviewed. The data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding, resulting in 13 main categories. These categories were organized within a paradigmatic model, including causal conditions (basic skills, teaching, supervision, and evaluation), the central phenomenon (empathetic abilities in care), strategies for fostering empathetic communication (material and emotional support), contextual factors (work environment in hospitals and clinics, job satisfaction, and the role of clinical supervisors), intervening conditions (personal and psychological characteristics, lifestyle), and outcomes (individual and institutional).

Highlights

Abdulrahim Zai, V., & Arefi, M. (2022). Comprehensive Developments in Afghanistan's Higher Education Curriculum During COVID-19: Opportunities and Challenges. 10th International Conference on Management and Humanities Research, University of Tehran, Iran. [Persian]

Arefi, M., & Rezaei Zadeh, M. (2011). A Review of the Role of University Curriculum in Developing Students' Critical Thinking. University Curriculum Studies, 3. [Persian]

   Babury, M. O., & Hayward, F. M. (2014). Afghanistan higher education: The struggle for quality, merit, and transformation. Planning for Higher Education, 42(2), Publications Ltd.     Issues: Prestige and Employment Outcomes in the Teaching Excellence Framework. HEPI      Occasional Paper 14.

   Barnett, R and Coate, K (2012) Engaging the curriculum in higher education. Berkshire: The Society for Research in Higher Education, Open University Press.

   Blackmore, Paul, Richard Blackwell and Martin Edmondsen. 2016. Tackling Wicked

   Braun, V., Clarke, V., & Terry, G. (2021). Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide. SAGE    

Carnell, B., & Fung, D. (Eds.). (2017). Developing the higher education curriculum: Research-based education in practice. UCL Press.

Creswell, J. W. (2018). Research Design. Translated by Kiamanesh, A. R., & Danaei Tous, M. Tehran: Jihad Daneshgahi Publications, Tabatabai Unit. [Persian]

Ducote, J. M. (1985). Curriculum in Higher Education: Historical Influences and Curricular Models.

Fathi Vajargah, K. (2020). The New Movement in Curriculum Studies. Tehran: Elm-e Ostadan Publications. [Persian]

Fathi Vajargah, K. (2021). The Future Position of Curriculum Studies in Curriculum Planning. Iranian Curriculum Studies Journal, 16(63). [Persian]

Fathi Vajargah, K. et al. (2018). University Curriculum Planning. Tehran: Mehraban Publications. [Persian]

HaghParast Ghadim Limoudehi, F., KazemPour, I., Abbasi, B., & Yarmohammad Tousky,

Hariri, N. (2017). Principles and Methods of Qualitative Research. Tehran: Islamic Azad University, Research Branch. [Persian]

Hicks, O. (2007, July). Curriculum in higher education in Australia–Hello. In Enhancing Higher Education, Theory and Scholarship, Proceedings of the 30th HERDSA Annual Conference [CD-ROM] (Vol. 8, No. 11).

Hisrich,Robert B. Michael p. peters(2015), Entrepreneurship, Tata McGraw Hill  publishing company limited.

Hosseini Lorgani, S. M., & Mojtabazadeh, M. (2018). Designing and Validating a Curriculum Model for Iran's Higher Education System. Journal of Research and Curriculum Planning in Higher Education, 23(3), 25-51. [Persian]

Karami, M., & Momeni, H. (2011). Iranian Curriculum Studies Association, 6(21), 30. [Persian]

Katawazai, R. (2021). Implementing outcome-based education and student-centered learning in Afghan public universities: the current practices and challenges. Heliyon, 7(5), e07076.

Khaghanizadeh & Fathi Vajargah (2021). University Curriculum Models. Educational Strategies of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, 1(2). [Persian]

Khaghanizadeh, & Fathi Vajargah. (2009). University Curriculum Models. Bi-monthly Journal of Educational Strategies in Medical Sciences, 1(2), 10-18. [Persian]

Khan, M. A., & Law, L. S. (2015). An Integrative Approach to Curriculum Development in Higher Education in the USA: A Theoretical Framework. International Education Studies, 8(3), 66-76

Kulkarni, V. N., Gaitonde, V. N., & Kotturshettar, B. B. (2020). Adapting industry based curriculum design for strengthening post graduate programs in Indian scenario. Procedia Computer Science, 172, 253-258.

Lattuca, L. R. (2017). Curricula in International Perspective. In: International Handbook of Higher Education, edited by Forest, James and Altbach, Philip G. J.F, Published by Springer.

M. (2018). Designing a Curriculum Model Based on the Development of Social Capital for Iran Higher Education. Iranian journal of educational sociology, 1(10), 141-150. -.

Mohsenpour, K., Hossein et al. Presenting a Model for Promoting University Curriculum Planning Culture in Iran Using a Grounded Theory Approach. Research and Planning in Higher Education, 85, 71-98. [Persian]

O'Neill, G. (2015). Curriculum design in higher education: Theory to practice.

R. N. Brown et al. (2002). Curriculum and Education (An Introduction to Teaching Methods). Translated by Noorozi, D., Salehi, A. Tehran: Islamic Azad University, South Branch Publications. [Persian]

Savelyeva, T., & McKenna, J. R. (2011). Campus sustainability: emerging curricula models in higher education. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.

Tremblay, K., Lalancette, D., & Roseveare, D. (2012). Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes. Bochum: Ed. OECD.

Uztozun, M. S., & Troudi, S. (2015). Lecturers' views of curriculum change at English Language Teaching departments in Turkey.

van den Akker, J., Kuiper, W., Hameyer, U., Kuiper, W., Nieveen, N., & Visscher-Voerman, I. (2003). Curriculum development from a technical-professional perspective. Curriculum landscapes and trends, 177-198.

Warren, D. (2002). Curriculum design in a context of widening participation in higher education. Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, 1(1), 85-99.

Yadgarzadeh, G. (2018). Conceptualization of University Curriculum. Iranian Curriculum Encyclopedia. [Persian]

Yousefzadeh, M. (2010). Presenting a Curriculum Model for Thinking Skills (Creative and Critical Thinking) for Undergraduate Level from Curriculum Specialists' Perspective. Educational Research Journal, 23, 191-209. [Persian]

Keywords
Afghanistan
university curriculum
model design
Abdulrahim Zai, V., & Arefi, M. (2022). Comprehensive Developments in Afghanistan's Higher Education Curriculum During COVID-19: Opportunities and Challenges. 10th International Conference on Management and Humanities Research, University of Tehran, Iran. [Persian]
Arefi, M., & Rezaei Zadeh, M. (2011). A Review of the Role of University Curriculum in Developing Students' Critical Thinking. University Curriculum Studies, 3. [Persian]
   Babury, M. O., & Hayward, F. M. (2014). Afghanistan higher education: The struggle for quality, merit, and transformation. Planning for Higher Education, 42(2), Publications Ltd.     Issues: Prestige and Employment Outcomes in the Teaching Excellence Framework. HEPI      Occasional Paper 14.
   Barnett, R and Coate, K (2012) Engaging the curriculum in higher education. Berkshire: The Society for Research in Higher Education, Open University Press.
   Blackmore, Paul, Richard Blackwell and Martin Edmondsen. 2016. Tackling Wicked
   Braun, V., Clarke, V., & Terry, G. (2021). Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide. SAGE    
Carnell, B., & Fung, D. (Eds.). (2017). Developing the higher education curriculum: Research-based education in practice. UCL Press.
Creswell, J. W. (2018). Research Design. Translated by Kiamanesh, A. R., & Danaei Tous, M. Tehran: Jihad Daneshgahi Publications, Tabatabai Unit. [Persian]
Ducote, J. M. (1985). Curriculum in Higher Education: Historical Influences and Curricular Models.
Fathi Vajargah, K. (2020). The New Movement in Curriculum Studies. Tehran: Elm-e Ostadan Publications. [Persian]
Fathi Vajargah, K. (2021). The Future Position of Curriculum Studies in Curriculum Planning. Iranian Curriculum Studies Journal, 16(63). [Persian]
Fathi Vajargah, K. et al. (2018). University Curriculum Planning. Tehran: Mehraban Publications. [Persian]
HaghParast Ghadim Limoudehi, F., KazemPour, I., Abbasi, B., & Yarmohammad Tousky,
Hariri, N. (2017). Principles and Methods of Qualitative Research. Tehran: Islamic Azad University, Research Branch. [Persian]
Hicks, O. (2007, July). Curriculum in higher education in Australia–Hello. In Enhancing Higher Education, Theory and Scholarship, Proceedings of the 30th HERDSA Annual Conference [CD-ROM] (Vol. 8, No. 11).
Hisrich,Robert B. Michael p. peters(2015), Entrepreneurship, Tata McGraw Hill  publishing company limited.
Hosseini Lorgani, S. M., & Mojtabazadeh, M. (2018). Designing and Validating a Curriculum Model for Iran's Higher Education System. Journal of Research and Curriculum Planning in Higher Education, 23(3), 25-51. [Persian]
Karami, M., & Momeni, H. (2011). Iranian Curriculum Studies Association, 6(21), 30. [Persian]
Katawazai, R. (2021). Implementing outcome-based education and student-centered learning in Afghan public universities: the current practices and challenges. Heliyon, 7(5), e07076.
Khaghanizadeh & Fathi Vajargah (2021). University Curriculum Models. Educational Strategies of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, 1(2). [Persian]
Khaghanizadeh, & Fathi Vajargah. (2009). University Curriculum Models. Bi-monthly Journal of Educational Strategies in Medical Sciences, 1(2), 10-18. [Persian]
Khan, M. A., & Law, L. S. (2015). An Integrative Approach to Curriculum Development in Higher Education in the USA: A Theoretical Framework. International Education Studies, 8(3), 66-76
Kulkarni, V. N., Gaitonde, V. N., & Kotturshettar, B. B. (2020). Adapting industry based curriculum design for strengthening post graduate programs in Indian scenario. Procedia Computer Science, 172, 253-258.
Lattuca, L. R. (2017). Curricula in International Perspective. In: International Handbook of Higher Education, edited by Forest, James and Altbach, Philip G. J.F, Published by Springer.
M. (2018). Designing a Curriculum Model Based on the Development of Social Capital for Iran Higher Education. Iranian journal of educational sociology, 1(10), 141-150. -.
Mohsenpour, K., Hossein et al. Presenting a Model for Promoting University Curriculum Planning Culture in Iran Using a Grounded Theory Approach. Research and Planning in Higher Education, 85, 71-98. [Persian]
O'Neill, G. (2015). Curriculum design in higher education: Theory to practice.
R. N. Brown et al. (2002). Curriculum and Education (An Introduction to Teaching Methods). Translated by Noorozi, D., Salehi, A. Tehran: Islamic Azad University, South Branch Publications. [Persian]
Savelyeva, T., & McKenna, J. R. (2011). Campus sustainability: emerging curricula models in higher education. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Tremblay, K., Lalancette, D., & Roseveare, D. (2012). Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes. Bochum: Ed. OECD.
Uztozun, M. S., & Troudi, S. (2015). Lecturers' views of curriculum change at English Language Teaching departments in Turkey.
van den Akker, J., Kuiper, W., Hameyer, U., Kuiper, W., Nieveen, N., & Visscher-Voerman, I. (2003). Curriculum development from a technical-professional perspective. Curriculum landscapes and trends, 177-198.
Warren, D. (2002). Curriculum design in a context of widening participation in higher education. Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, 1(1), 85-99.
Yadgarzadeh, G. (2018). Conceptualization of University Curriculum. Iranian Curriculum Encyclopedia. [Persian]
Yousefzadeh, M. (2010). Presenting a Curriculum Model for Thinking Skills (Creative and Critical Thinking) for Undergraduate Level from Curriculum Specialists' Perspective. Educational Research Journal, 23, 191-209. [Persian]
Theory and Practice in the Curriculum
Volume 12, Issue 24
February 2025
Pages 221-244