Better Together: Negotiating the Tension Between Liberal and Practical Knowledge in Event Management Curriculum Design

Abstract

In a rapidly changing landscape, curriculum designers are under increased pressure to develop higher education courses that meet the needs of industry whilst ensuring that students engage with complex issues, developing broader views as global citizens. This chapter uses a case study approach to assess a curriculum design model that blends broader liberal and industry relevant subjects in a Bachelor of Event Management qualification. A qualitative research method was used to collect student and external academic feedback on the course design. Findings indicate that the delivery of liberal subjects in each year of the course enriches students understanding of more industry focused subjects and that the industry focused subjects provide for deeper discussions in liberal subjects.