Journal of higher education curriculum studies

Journal of higher education curriculum studies

Beyond the Surface: A Phenomenological In-Depth Inquiry into Faculty Perceptions of Underground Curriculum in Higher Education

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Jamal Salimi 1
Ali aminnibag 2
1 Associate Professor of Curriculum Studies, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.
2 PhD student in Higher Education Planning and Development, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.
10.22034/hecs.2026.508161.2003
Abstract
The curriculum functions like an intelligent map, illuminating the path of students’ learning in higher education and playing an indispensable role in shaping their knowledge, skills, and attitudes. This path not only empowers students within their fields of specialization but also prepares them to face real-world challenges and to participate effectively and consciously in society, weaving together educational experiences and everyday life into the fabric of their professional identity. The aim of this study was to explore faculty members’ perceptions of the concept of underground curriculum in higher education; this was done using an interpretive approach and a phenomenological strategy. For this purpose, 19 faculty members participated purposefully and with maximum diversity. The data collection tool was an in-depth semi-structured interview. A three-stage open, axial, and selective coding method was used to analyze the data. The findings of the study showed that the nature of the underground curriculum in higher education included categories such as implicit and unspoken, informal and unstructured, context and culture-dependent, emotional and sentimental, power-laden and hierarchical, cumulative and enduring, and subtle and unconscious. Also, the effects and outcomes of the underground curriculum in higher education included standardizing critical thinking, strengthening the spirit of entrepreneurship, developing academic character, developing professional identity, developing practical intelligence (street smarts), developing leadership skills and initiative, cultivating a sense of identity and institutional pride, encountering diverse perspectives and values, and strengthening mindfulness and stress management techniques
Keywords
Underground curriculum
higher education
professors
Phenomenography
Subjects
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