The Relationship between Curriculum Effectiveness and Students’ Abilities with the Moderating Role of the Quality of Learning Experiences

The goals of higher education are achieved when the curriculum is designed in line with the needs, abilities, and interests of students. Therefore, to assess the effectiveness of the curricula in various fields, it is necessary to heed students’ abilities. Thus, this research aimed to examine the relationship between the effectiveness of the curriculum and students’ abilities by taking into account the moderating role of the quality of learning experiences.

Research Hypotheses:

This study sought to examine two main hypotheses. The first hypothesis posited a positive relationship between the effectiveness of the curriculum and students’ abilities. According to the second hypothesis, the quality of learning experiences played a moderating role in the relationship between curriculum effectiveness and students’ abilities.

This study adopted a descriptive correlational design. The statistical population of the study included all students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences who had matriculated in 1400. Stratified random sampling was used and 380 students were selected as study participants. To test the research hypotheses, structural equation models were employed using the partial least squares (PLC) approach.

The results of the hypothesis testing showed that the effectiveness of the curriculum had a positive relationship with students’ abilities and its components (i.e., personal, interpersonal, and cognitive). Also, the results showed that the quality of learning experiences played a moderating role in the relationship between the effectiveness of curricula and students’ abilities and its components.

It can be stated that the quality of learning experiences strengthens the relationship between the effectiveness of the curriculum and students’ personal, interpersonal, and cognitive abilities. Therefore, university administrators are recommended to pay more attention to the relationship between curricula and students’ abilities since developing a range of abilities in students can help them cope with academic challenges and achieve scientific and professional growth.