Journal of higher education curriculum studies

Journal of higher education curriculum studies

Digital University Curriculum: Identification and Validation of Content Features

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Fatemeh Akhoondi Barzoki 1
MohammadReza NiliAhmadabadi 2
Mehdi ShamiZanjani 3
1 Department of Education Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
3 professor., Department of Information Technology Management, Faculty of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/hecs.2026.499007.1991
Abstract
In light of the rapid technological advancements and the pressing need to address the demands of a knowledge‑based society, the digital university has emerged as a novel paradigm on the agenda of higher education systems in recent years. The present study aimed to identify and validate the content features of the digital university curriculum. This research employed a sequential exploratory mixed‑methods approach, conducted in two phases: qualitative and quantitative. In the qualitative phase, alongside a systematic review of the theoretical foundations of the digital university, semi‑structured interviews with higher education specialists were carried out to identify the principal dimensions and components of curriculum content. In the quantitative phase, a questionnaire was developed based on the qualitative findings, and its face, content, and construct validity were confirmed. The reliability of the questionnaire, established using Cronbach's alpha, yielded a coefficient of 0.92, indicating a high level of instrument trustworthiness. The results of confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a good fit of the conceptual model (RMSEA = 0.07, CFI = 0.95, AGFI = 0.91, GFI = 0.96). The findings indicate that the content features of the digital university curriculum encompass multimediality, interactivity, personalisation, dynamism, and content co‑creation, which were deemed highly valid and applicable by experts for implementation in higher education environments. These findings can serve as a foundation for redesigning modern curricula to enhance the quality of education in the digital era.
Keywords
Digital University
Curriculum
Curriculum Content
Subjects
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