title: Curriculum leadership in the postgraduate: Gap between current and optimal status.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Identifying the strengths and weakness points is one of the effective methods to analyze current status, and prioritizing actions based on the gap between current and optimal status is necessary for short-term and long-term planning in departments and colleges. The aim of this study was to determine the gap between current and optimal status of curriculum leadership in the postgraduate courses in two Iranian universities.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 212 faculty members from the two Iranian universities (one medical and one nonmedical) was randomly selected through stratified random sampling method. Data were collected by using a researcher-made questionnaire, with 55 items categorized in four areas of main dimensions in curriculum leadership. The validity of the questionnaire was determined by curriculum studies scholars, and the reliability was confirmed as the Cronbach's alpha calculated 0.969. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics according to the variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a gap in all dimensions and roles. The maximum gap (-1.70) with the highest frequency (98%) were related to "improving the educational atmosphere" dimension. As for items, the maximum gap (-2.41) was related to "society needs and expectations and the labor market" in "curriculum development and revision" dimension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The negative gap between all dimensions of curriculum leadership implies faculty members' dissatisfaction. Curriculum leadership at universities, colleges and departments of the study in all aspects need to be improved. Hence, it is necessary for managers to make use of the viewpoints of the faculty members to decrease the gap.
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Scieneces, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avizhgan
authors.affiliation: Department of Education, Curriculum Development, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ebrahim Mirshah
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.affiliation: Department of Education, Curriculum Development, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Nasr
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Scieneces, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Changiz
keywords: Curriculum leadership; faculty members’ viewpoints; postgraduate education; situation analysis