Innovative Curriculum Management in Contemporary Education Systems: A Review of Global Practices

Abstract

Innovative curriculum management has become a critical factor in improving educational quality amid rapid global changes, including digital transformation, shifting labor market demands, and increasing expectations for learner-centered education. Despite widespread curriculum reform initiatives, numerous studies indicate that the implementation of innovative curriculum management in education systems continues to face substantial challenges, such as limited leadership capacity, insufficient teacher readiness, fragmented curriculum alignment, and uneven integration of digital technologies. This study aims to systematically analyze innovative curriculum management practices in contemporary education systems through a review of recent national and international scientific literature. This research employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method, examining 32 peer-reviewed articles published between 2021 and 2026. Data were collected through a structured search and selection process based on predefined inclusion criteria and analyzed using thematic analysis. The review synthesizes evidence on various curriculum management innovations, including competency-based curricula, learner-centered curriculum design, decentralized curriculum governance, digital and data-driven curriculum management, and the integration of emerging technologies. The findings reveal that innovative curriculum management significantly contributes to improvements in teaching and learning quality, curriculum relevance, and student learning outcomes when supported by effective leadership, teacher professional agency, and coherent governance structures. Leadership that emphasizes collaboration, instructional support, and innovation-oriented decision-making plays a central role in translating curriculum reforms into classroom practice. Additionally, digital and data-driven approaches emerge as increasingly influential in enabling adaptive, personalized, and responsive curriculum implementation in contemporary education systems.