Journal of Research in Educational Systems
Scientific Journal

Designing a Nexus Curriculum Model (Research-Teaching Nexus) for the Humanities Major in higher education

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Sahar Baradaran Abdollahi 1
Firooz Mahmoodi 2
Davood Tahmasebzadeh 3
Rahim Badri 2

1 Ph.D. Student in Curriculum Studies, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

2 Department of Education, Faculty of Education& Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

3 Department of Education, Faculty of Education& Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22034/jiera.2026.552620.3390
Abstract
Objective: The present study was conducted with the aim of designing a Nexus-curricular model for the major group of humanities. Curriculum in higher education can act as a bridge between the macro-level of decision-making and the micro-level.E
Method: In the present study, a qualitative approach and a research synthesis method were used to explain the curriculum elements. The statistical population included upstream documents, books, articles, dissertations, and theses related to the period from 1995 to 2025. After content analysis and axial and selective coding of the data obtained from the document review, the initial characteristics of the Nexus curriculum elements were extracted and then interviews were conducted with relevant experts and professors, and their opinions were used to modify the proposed model, and the final model was presented. MAXQDA2020 software was used to analyze the content of the documents and interviews.
Results: According to the findings from the content analysis of documents and interviews, in this model, 52 core codes and 11 optional codes were identified, including accepting the temporary and variable nature of knowledge, relating course content to new research findings, promoting a national research culture, etc., which indicated the characteristics and elements of the Nexus Curriculum.
Conclusions: Reforms should be made in higher education curriculum to facilitate the practical use of Nexus curricula in higher education. Also, the most effective factor in designing and implementing Nexus curriculum was the university's support for professors and research students.

Keywords

Nexus curriculum design
Nexus curriculum
Research in higher education
Research-based education
Research-teaching Nexus
Subjects
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Journal of Research in Educational Systems
Volume 19, Issue 71
December 2025
Pages 1-15

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