See how we are improving our curriculum to provide the best learning community for our students and staff.
What is Curriculum Reimagined?
Curriculum Reimagined is a review of our educational offer and the structures that support it. The changes resulting from it will support the University's Strategy 2035, enhance student experience, close awarding gaps, and improve graduate outcomes.
The project has two key elements:
- Restoring: Fixing current frameworks and support systems
- Reimagining: Developing a clear vision for education delivery that prioritises inclusivity and ensures regular curriculum reviews, keeping the University adaptable to both internal and external changes.
As part of a recent review of the Capital Programme, the duration and scope of the Curriculum Reimagined project has also been reviewed. It now focuses on embedding key deliverables in our structures and processes during 2025. The end date of the project is now July 2025.
Curriculum Reimagined is divided into three sub-projects:
1. Sussex Academic Framework: A unified approach to curriculum, teaching, and assessment. The Sussex Academic Framework will define our overall educational offer and specify how it is delivered. It will include clarity on our assessment framework that will address problems identified by both staff and students and help us move towards consistency of practice.
2. Sussex Choice: A refreshed interdisciplinary offer with two components: a review and clarification of our current electives and elective pathways; and the development of a distinctive, compelling and agile framework for interdisciplinary teaching in the context of Sussex 2035.
3. Sussex Prospectus: Improving the applicant experience and making course changes easier and more compliant with Competition and Marketing Authority (CMA) requirements.
Progress so far
Since Curriculum Reimagined started in 2023, our three sub-projects have involved extensive engagement with both staff and students, alongside reviewing best practice across the sector. We have listened carefully to feedback and focused our priorities in response.
Sussex Academic Framework
The framework has now been approved and will take effect from 1 August 2025, for use within the 2025-26 academic year onwards. Faculties will be invited to create faculty specific responses. Contact the project’s Senior Curriculum Consultant Amanda Bolt if you have any enquiries about this process.
Sussex Choice
A proposal for the future shape of Sussex Choice was developed and circulated for consultation. The response to the proposal has been positive, and the next steps include launching the Sussex Choice board, creating new electives and pathways, and improving the presentation of electives to students.
Sussex Prospectus
The Sussex Prospectus workstream has transitioned to business as usual and is being led by our AQP and Digital and Creative Media teams.
Next steps
The Curriculum Reimagined project will end in July 2025 with work already underway to ensure a smooth transition to business as usual. Following Sussex Prospectus’ handover, the next stage is to establish the work of Sussex Choice as part of the Sussex School of Progressive Futures (SSPF). Buzz Harrison will continue to lead this work in her capacity as the newly appointed Dean of the School.
Throughout 2025/26, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Innovation Claire Smith, Senior Curriculum Reimagined Consultant, Amanda Bolt, and the Associate Deans for Education and Students will continue to work closely with Faculty academic and PS colleagues to develop and implement changes as a result of the new Sussex Academic Framework.
Related and dependent projects
Projects that Curriculum Reimagined is closely linked with include:
- Student Information System
- timetabling projects
- e-assessments