Catalyzing Curriculum Transformation to Advance Industry 5.0 Engineering Education

Graduates who can solve problems and make an impact on society, in a volatile and uncertain world, are required. In this changing world, there are constant drivers and challenges, which lead to new requirements for Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) curricula and pedagogies. HEIs are changing at a rapid pace, with strong disturbance, and operate in volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA). The main aim of the study was to explore how to guide HEI academics and programme leaders to catalyze curriculum transformation to advance engineering education. Using a qualitative research approach, participants from partner universities (in France, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Lithuania and South Africa) were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected from an interactive virtual workshop conducted in May 2024 to explore diverse understandings of curriculum transformation, and disruptions experienced in the HEIs with respect to curriculum transformation. Thematic analysis was used to generate five themes. The results highlight that the process of curriculum transformation can be enhanced by encouraging flexibility at HEIs, facilitating cooperation and teamwork, improving the collective capacity to change the curriculum, and ensuring the involvement of diverse stakeholders. The findings provide valuable insights for programme designers tasked with leading curriculum transformation and sustenance of engineering education.