4 Is and a Dandelion: A Conceptual Framework to Address the Curriculum Development Challenges of Sino-British Foundation Years in China

Abstract

Curriculum development has long been regarded as a central pillar in the architecture of educational effectiveness; however, this theme has been largely overlooked in the unique context of foundation years in higher education, with research on transnational programmes in China focusing on the point of view of the foreign institutions. In this article, the authors aim to propose a conceptual framework to guide curriculum development based on four principles—integration, inspirational teaching, inclusiveness, and innovation—named the 4 Is. The framework addresses the theme of curriculum development in foundation years within transnational education in China adopting the point of view of the educators working in China. By introducing a case study of an introductory management module, the article will discuss how the framework can be applied in practice, and data gathered from 2019 to 2022 will show students’ reactions toward module developments informed by the framework. The 4 Is are the result of a continuous interplay between the authors’ teaching practice, reflection, and engagement with students and wider academic literature.

Keywords:

• Curriculum development
• foundation year
• inclusiveness
• innovation
• inspirational teaching
• integration

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Lingyan He from the School of Banking and Finance, University of International Business and Finance, Beijing, China for contributing to the visualization of the 4 Is.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mattia Miani

Mattia Miani is a Director of Education and Student Experience for Preliminary Year Content at University of Nottingham Ningbo China.

Miao Wang

Miao Wang is a Team Leader of International Business at University of Nottingham Ningbo China.

Shih-Ching (Susan) Picucci-Huang

Shih-Ching (Susan) Picucci-Huang is a Business, Humanities, and Social Science (BHSS) tutor in CELE at University of Nottingham Ningbo China.