Redefining relevance in information systems curriculum: insights for IS educators from a systematic literature review

Curriculum relevance is the applicability of an education program to the needs of the program stakeholders. Previous studies have identified a gap in the relevance of Information Systems (IS) curricula. This paper explores the concept of relevance in the IS field by asking ‘relevant to whom?’, ‘relevant to what?’, ‘relevant how?’, and ‘relevant when?’ through a systematic literature review. The review yielded 45 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings from seven databases. The review indicates that a relevant IS curriculum aligns with the needs of both industry and students, focusing on professional interests. It also considers contextual factors and the balance between current and future relevance. The findings highlight that stakeholder perspectives, involvement, context, university resources, and technological advancements influence curriculum relevance. The findings provide curriculum developers and decision-makers with insight into the various aspects of relevance and how they relate equipping them with knowledge to improve curriculum relevance.