Interdisciplinary learning and research

Find out how to work across multiple academic disciplines in higher education, in order to pool expertise and develop novel skillsets and solutions to complex problems. These guides offer insight on how to break down disciplinary boundaries in university teaching and research to seek greater understanding.

By Eliza.Compton, 27 February, 2025

Navigating uncertainty with interdisciplinary teaching

Multiracial group sitting around housing plans
The siloed approach to education – where students in technical, business, humanities and arts disciplines learn separately – is no longer adequate, writes Lisa McNair
Reading time
4minutes
By kiera.obrien, 26 February, 2025

Give students the skills to communicate across disciplines

Students work together in an outdoor setting
In sustainability education, inter- and transdisciplinary teaching alone is not enough – students need to develop the skills to learn in a cross-disciplinary way. Co-creation could be the answer.
Reading time
5minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 26 February, 2025

Lessons from an interdisciplinary community engagement course for engineers

University teacher and students
STEM curricula in the US don’t often expose students to perspectives on culture, history and power nor equip them with effective community engagement skills. Here, an instructor and students share lessons from designing and teaching an interdisciplinary course that sought to address that gap
Reading time
4minutes
By Laura.Duckett, 19 February, 2025

Can you teach interdisciplinarity in 10 weeks?

Students working on an interdisciplinary project
Interdisciplinarity is an ambitious and rewarding research process, but how realistic can we be in a 10-week module? Here is how to frame the task, structure the process and balance workloads
Reading time
4minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 19 February, 2025

Beyond the classroom: from PhD preparation to leadership

Pathway from PhD to healthcare leadership
A foundational pathway that nurtures future leaders in healthcare and scientific innovation produces students who are not only ready for their PhD journey but emerge as skilled professionals and researchers, write Zoltán Benyó and Attila Szijártó
Reading time
4minutes
Interdisciplinary learning and research