Abstract
This article describes a specific, local curriculum initiative. The process and product of designing a new 4-year, part-time Diploma Course in Occupational Therapy is described in a narrative style. A team of 12 occupational therapists and one educationalist tackled the challenge of constructing a curriculum. The article analyses and reflects upon the unpredictable and creative process of curriculum innovation, within a particular context provided by a clear, collaborative relationship between the purchasers and providers of a vocational training course. The curriculum planners needed to take into consideration the characteristics of adult learners and the requirements of quality assurance and validation as set by national statutory bodies. These provided additional dimensions which contributed to the specific context for this curriculum initiative. The two outcomes of the development year — the product and the course planning team members' evaluation of the process — are also described.
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