Designing for success: Knowing, Doing and Being
The Integrated Curriculum Design Framework (ICDF) is an overarching framework that consists of a three-phased approach to curriculum design, guiding programme teams to pro-actively design, develop and deliver a holistic and innovative curriculum for our learners, industry and economy.
It has been developed from a sound pedagogical evidence-base and encompasses the three dimensions of curriculum design of Knowing, Doing and Being (Barnett and Coate, 2005):
- what does the student need to know?
- what does the student need to be able to do?
- what does the student need to be?
ICDF SharePoint resources
We've created an ICDF SharePoint Site to support unit coordinators, course directors and course teams.
This site guides staff through the three-phases of ICDF, outlining the processes and expected outputs for each phase.
The site also contains toolkits and resources to aid Module Design and Programme Design.
ICDF Workshops
If you are leading revalidation or evaluation of an Ulster programme, please register for the ICDF Institutional Workshops. These workshops will be delivered on a yearly basis in Semester II. It is recommended that you attend the workshops prior to the Academic Year that your Programme is being evaluated/revalidated.
If you are unable to attend these workshops, please liaise with your LE Faculty Consultant.
Overview of ICDF
The three phases of the framework guides and supports programme teams to approach curriculum design as an opportunity to critically reflect on programme designs and to co-create with peers, students, employers and professional, statutory and regulatory bodies (PSRBs) to create a coherent, innovative and a fit-for-purpose curriculum for our learners, industry and economy.
This process of quality enhancement is aligned with the Quality Assurance Agency's (QAA) UK Quality Code for Higher Education which sets out the expectations that UK Higher Education providers are required to meet in respect of: approval of new courses and periodic review of existing courses.
The processes of programme design, development and approval are an essential part of higher education providers' internal quality assurance and enhancement. They ensure that appropriate academic standards are set and maintained and the programmes offered to students make available learning opportunities which enable the intended learning outcomes to be achieved (QAA, 2013, p.4).
The ICDF also integrates Ulster’s internal processes for Programme Approval:
Each individual phase of the framework is process driven, articulating the inputs to inform the design process and the expected outputs, which will inform the next phase and/or the programme artefacts. Programme and Module Planners are part of the framework which allow the outputs to be captured and disseminated.
ICDF framework
This diagram explains the ICDF three-phased approach:
ICDF Development Framework

Development Framework Phases
Each Phase of the Framework is process driven, with defined inputs to inform design decisions and expected outputs that contribute to the revalidation documentation required.
More information
For any questions regarding the development of the ICDF contact:
References
- Barnett R. and Coate K. (2005) Engaging the Curriculum in Higher Education. Berkshire: Society for research into Higher Education and Open University Press.
- QAA (2018) The UK Quality Code, Advice And Guidance: Course Design And Development.
- QAA (2024) UK Quality Code for Higher Education.