Co-hosted by AHOVOKS and SNAE, experts from Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Flanders and Sweden were met with a generous welcome in Brussels on 9 and 10 September 2025 to dig deeper into the current knowledge-turn in curriculum development. The experts examined the origins of knowledge-rich curriculum thinking, as well as how it is being discussed in different national contexts. Also, a set of principles for curriculum design were identified and studied in several countries.
- We found out that what is referred to as knowledge-rich curricula is actually an international phenomenon with quite clear implications for curriculum design. But when countries or jurisdictions implement it there are always additional considerations that produces unique solutions, says Karl Larsson, Director of Education at SNAE Sweden.
The other part of the expert meeting considered means to review local curricula through the lens of knowledge-rich curriculum. The discussion identified several key questions, such as the role of subjects, boundaries between content and modes of teaching and the extent to which teachers are addressed.
- We were given input that will be helpful in identifying what matters from a knowledge-rich point of view, and the perspectives that were brought forward will be valuable in our forthcoming work, says Ellen van Twembeke, Policy Adviser at AHOVOKS Flanders.
