Exploring Competencies of Nanotechnology in Higher Education in Taiwan through Curriculum Mapping

The present study aimed to introduce a new approach to curriculum planning for a university nanotechnology curriculum based primarily on outcome-based education according to a competence-based perspective. To achieve this study purpose, curriculum mapping was used to explore nanotechnology curricula in higher education in Taiwan. Considering, as the initial point, the competencies of varied nanotechnology that professionals are expected to develop in higher education, the main competencies were identified through the content analysis of 600 course syllabi collected from thirteen nanotechnology-related undergraduate and graduate programs in nine leading universities in Taiwan. Next, courses were further analyzed and linked to the identified nanotechnology professional competencies, taking advantage of curriculum mapping, and consequently re-organized into a comprehensive curriculum map. Implications of design features in particular and important applications of the developed curriculum map are discussed.