Quality Function Deployment in Education: A Curriculum Review

The curriculum of the Tyre Technology Department at the Kocaeli University Köseköy Vocational School of Higher Education (KU-KVSHE) has been reviewed by using the quality function deployment (QFD) technique. The principal stakeholders for this review were identified as the local tyre companies and the department’s lecturers. The stakeholders’ expectations from the graduates of the department were determined by direct interviews using a special questionnaire. The customer needs were categorized, shortened and prioritized. The requirements of the two stakeholders were found to be almost the same but with a different order. The requirements were then converted into quality characteristics. After a comprehensive analysis on the contents and duration of the courses in the actual curriculum, taking into consideration stakeholder expectations, a substantial revision was deemed necessary. In conclusion, a new curriculum for the Tyre Technology Department was proposed in order to meet customer needs. The university senate has approved the new curriculum proposed in this study and the school management has decided to apply the new curriculum as of fall term of the 2002–2003 school year.