Curriculum development: Re-designing an ESAP course for students of the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science at the Cyprus University of Technology through more comprehensive needs analysis processes.

Abstract

Curriculum renewal and change is always necessary after the completion of an educational programme. The review of all the components comprising a curriculum and the effort to make them more efficient undoubtedly leads to more effective learning. After the completion of a six month ESAP (English for Specific Academic Purposes) course for first year students of the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science of the Cyprus University of Technology, the need for curriculum renewal was sensed. A fundamental role in curriculum development is that of needs analysis especially in the development of ESP / ESAP courses. Thus, it was determined that for better results, and based on a semester course implementation and results, a comprehensive needs analysis procedure should be followed for its improvement for the following year. In the context of this more inclusive analysis, the researchers decided to investigate the views of the students of the course, professors of the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science of the University, as well as professionals in the three fields (Agriculture, Biotechnology and Food Science). In this way more effective setting of aims and objectives, selection and grading of content, materials development and teaching practices would be achieved.