Can you describe a time when you implemented a significant change in the curriculum? What was the outcome?
Leadership
Leadership
Curriculum Development
Stakeholder Engagement
This question assesses your ability to lead academic change and innovate in educational practices, which are crucial for a Senior Dean.
How to answer
- Use the STAR method to structure your response: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
- Clearly outline the need for the curriculum change and the context behind it.
- Describe your role in the change process and the specific actions you took.
- Highlight collaboration with faculty and stakeholders to ensure buy-in.
- Share measurable outcomes that demonstrate the success of the change.
What not to say
- Focusing solely on the challenges without discussing solutions.
- Neglecting to mention collaboration with other departments or stakeholders.
- Providing vague outcomes without specific metrics.
- Failing to address any resistance or how it was managed.
Sample answer
“At the University of Sydney, I recognized a gap in our students' digital literacy skills. I led a task force to integrate digital skills into our curriculum across all faculties. We collaborated with IT and faculty to develop a series of workshops and assessments. As a result, student feedback improved by 40%, and graduation rates in related courses increased by 25%. This experience taught me the importance of data-driven decisions in curriculum development.”