The role of the factors reducing the distance between the intended, implemented and experienced curriculum in higher education

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of factors decreasing the gap between the intended، implemented and experienced curriculum in higher education. A stratified random sample of 33 academics as well as a cluster random sample of 98 students from Islamic Azad University، Torbat Haydariah، participated in this survey study. An identical research instrument was administered to both samples. Results indicated that five factors of curriculum development structure، teaching methods along with learning styles، strategies، and motivation of students were effective in decreasing the gap between the three levels of curriculum. Academics and students had significantly different views on teaching methods of lecturers، and learning styles and motivation of students. Motivation followed by curriculum development structure، and teaching methods was found to be most effective in decreasing the gap between the intended، implemented and experienced curriculum in higher education.