Analyzing the Meaning of Interdisciplinary in the CDIO Context

Analyzing the Meaning of Interdisciplinary in the CDIO Context

Companies search for potential recruits with interdisciplinary skills. Consequently, to meet this requirement, universities and teaching institutions develop and offer interdisciplinary courses and programs. A general definition of interdisciplinarity, proposed by Pharo et al. (2012, p. 498), is “…the integration of disciplinary perspectives to produce insights that are more than the summing of disciplinary knowledge”.

However, the meaning of interdisciplinarity varies between different actors. In order to be able to compare, monitor and evaluate concepts, it is important to ensure that the concept have the same meaning and content for all actors. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to define interdisciplinarity and its application in higher education with specific focus on CDIO related literature. Moreover, dimensions of interdisciplinarity will be illustrated in an ongoing master program.

This paper is divided into two parts. The first part is a theoretical study conducted in order to define the term and illustrate the width of applications of interdisciplinarity in the CDIO context. For this purpose, the content of the CDIO knowledge library was surveyed using following key words: inter*, cross*, interdisciplinary, and crossdisciplinary. The second part is empirical in nature and describes an on-going interdisciplinary master program called “Innovation through business, design, and engineering” held at the Linnaeus University, Sweden, as well as its dimensions of interdisciplinary. The program was initiated in 2011 and began in 2014 with 15 students. The program is dimensioned for about 30 students annually, ten from each faculty.

The paper concludes that interdisciplinarity is an important dimension that could take nearly any form and that it has different meaning for different actors. This paper takes its point of departure in the CDIO context, however in order to take a broader perspective additional research is needed with regards to definitions valid for different stakeholders and different contexts.

Proceedings of the 12th International CDIO Conference, Turku, Finland, June 12-16 2016

Authors (New): 
Mirka Kans
Åsa Gustafsson
Pages: 
12
Affiliations: 
Linnaeus University, Sweden
Keywords: 
Interdisciplinarity
Literature survey
Master program in innovation
CDIO Standard 3
CDIO Standard 5
CDIO Standard 7
CDIO Standard 8
Year: 
2016
Reference: 
Al-Atabi, M. (2013). Grand challenges for engineering and development of CDIO skills. Proceedings of the 9th International CDIO Conference, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts, June 9 – 13, 2013.: 
Augsburg T. (2003). Becoming Interdisciplinary. The Student Portfolio in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Program at Arizona State University. Issues in Integrative Studies 21, 98-125.: 
Birk, T., Bogø Jensen, L. & Hammer Andersson, P. (2014). Collaboration between courses in the interdisciplinary course Food Microbiology. Proceedings of the 10th International CDIO Conference, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, June 16-19, 2014.: 
Clement, K. H., Harris, P. & Agersø, Y. (2011), CDIO Projects in DTU’s Chemical and Biochemical B.Eng. Study Program. Proceedings of the 7th International CDIO Conference, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, June 20 - 23, 2011: 
Davies, M. & Devlin, M. (2007). Interdisciplinary higher education: Implications for teaching and learning. Centre for the Study of Higher Education, the University of Melbourne. [Electronic document], http://cshe.unimelb.edu.au/resources_teach/curriculum_design/docs/InterdisciplinaryHEd.pdf. : 
Davies, M. & Devlin, M. (2010). Interdisciplinary higher education in Tight, M., Devlin, M., & Davies, W. M. (2010). Interdisciplinary Higher Education: Perspectives and Practicalities. Bingley, UK: Emerald Book Serials and Monographs, 3-28.: 
Duffield S., Olson, A., & Kerzman, R. (2012). Crossing Borders, Breaking Boundaries: Collaboration Among Higher Education Institutions. Innovations in Higher Education 38, 237-250.: 
Elmquist, L., Eriksson, L. & Ekman, F. (2014). Workshop at a company with students from two different disciplines. Proceedings of the 10th International CDIO Conference, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, June 16-19, 2014.: 
Elmquist, L. & Johansson, G. (2011). An approach to foster integrative skills during the engineering studies. Proceedings of the 7th International CDIO Conference, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, June 20 - 23, 2011.: 
Habash, R. W. Y., Suurtamm, C. & Necsulescu, D. (2010). Embracing CDIO developing a mechatronics learning studio. Proceedings of the 6th International CDIO Conference, École Polytechnique, Montréal, June 15-18, 2010.: 
Helenius, M. (2010). Large scale project based learning in service design and engineering (SDE) masters program. Proceedings of the 6th International CDIO Conference, École Polytechnique, Montréal, June 15-18, 2010.: 
Ingeman-Nielsen, T. & Christensen, H. P. (2011). Interdisciplinary case-based teaching of engineering geosciences and geotechnics. Proceedings of the 7th International CDIO Conference, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, June 20 - 23, 2011.: 
Jørgensen, U., Lindegaard, H. & Brodersen, S. (2011). Foundations for a new type of design engineers – experiences from DTU meeting the CDIO concept. Proceeding of the 7th International CDIO Conference, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, June 20-23, 2011.: 
Kans, M., Haralanova, V. & Khoshaba, S. (2014). Interdisciplinary, international and industrial cooperation efforts within the mechanical engineering department. Proceedings of the 10th International CDIO Conference, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, June 16-19, 2014.: 
Karlshøj, J. & Dederichs, A. S. (2011). Multidisciplinary teaching – MSc course on teamwork and operation. Proceedings of the 7th International CDIO Conference, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, June 20 - 23, 2011.: 
Leong-Wee, H. & Pee, S. H. (2007) Designing a CDIO final year project. Proceedings of the 3rd International CDIO Conference, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, June 11-14, 2007.: 
Linnaeus University (2015). Vision and basic principles, https://lnu.se/en/meet-linnaeusuniversity/This-is-linnaeus-university/vision-and-basic-principles/: 
Lourenço Jr, J. & Veraldo Jr, L. G. (2015). CDIO approach: the new engineering degree programs in a Brazilian HEI. The PBL Project Based Learning experience. Proceedings of the 11th International CDIO Conference, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China, June 8-11, 2015.: 
Meeth, R. (1978). Interdisciplinary Studies: A Matter of Definition. Change 10(7), 10.: 
Newell, W. H. (2012). A Theory of interdisciplinary studies. Issues in Integrative Studies 19, 1-12.: 
Nikitina, S. (2006). Three strategies for interdisciplinary teaching: contextualizing, conceptualizing and problem-centring. Journal of Curriculum Studies 38(3), 251-271.: 
Nordahl, R. & Busk Kofoed, L. (2012). Medialogy – an interdisciplinary education challenge in a problem based learning environment. Proceedings of the 8th International CDIO Conference, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, July 1 - 4, 2012.: 
Palm, E. & Törnqvist, E. (2015). How to integrate ethical aspects in a technical project course. Proceedings of the 11th International CDIO Conference, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China, June 8-11, 2015: 
Pharo, E. J., Davison, A., Warr, K., Nursey-Bray, M., Beswick, K., Wapstra E. & Jones C. (2012). Can teacher collaboration overcome barriers to interdisciplinary learning in a disciplinary university? A case study using climate change, Teaching in Higher Education 17(5), 497-507.: 
Porter, A. L. & Chubin,D. E. (1985). An indicator of cross-disciplinary research. Scientometrics 8(3-4), 161-176.: 
de Roza, A. (2010). Industry linkage@NYP – translating innovative approaches into action. Proceedings of the 6th CDIO Conference, Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal, June 15-18,2010.: 
Rudd, K. W., Waters, J. K., O'Mara, D., Flaherty, C. J. & Janssen, M. (2011). System engineering in senior-design capstone projects. Proceedings of the 7th International CDIO Conference, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, June 20 - 23, 2011.: 
Seidel, R., Shahbazpour, M., Walker, D., Shekar, A. & Chambers, C. (2011). An Innovative Approach To Develop Students’ Industrial Problem Solving Skills. Proceedings of the 7th International CDIO Conference, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, June 20 – 23, 2011.: 
Spooner, D., Raynauld, J. & Lalande, P. (2011). Proposed framework for Transdisciplinary Product and Process Design Education. Proceedings of the 7th International CDIO Conference, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, June 20 - 23, 2011: 
Sunnerhagen, M., Svensson, M., Ehrenborg, E., Carlsson, U., Mårtensson, L-G. & Tibell, L. (2006). An in-situ professional conceive-design-experience in an interdisciplinary context: engineering students in chemical biology present research plans to medical doctors. Proceedings of the 2nd International CDIO Conference, Linköping University, Linköping, June 13-14, 2006.: 
Tarkanian, M. J. & Caulfield, M. E. (2013). Designing for student success: a materials science case study. Proceedings of the 9th International CDIO Conference, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts, June 9 – 13, 2013: 
Tien, D. T. K. & Hajibeigy, M. T. (2014). Multidisciplinary project: a CDIO case study at Taylor’s university. Proceedings of the 10th International CDIO Conference, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, June 16-19, 2014.: 
Törnqvist, E. (2015). Cross disciplinary projects – a cooperation between Linköping university, Demola and the surrounding society. Proceedings of the 11th International CDIO Conference, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China, June 8-11, 2015: 
Vanstone, M., Hibbert, K., Kinsella, E. A., McKenzie, P. J., Pitman, A., & Lingard, L. (2013). Interdisciplinary doctoral research supervision: A scoping review. Canadian Journal of Higher Education 43(2), 42-67.: 
Waterman, E. Hartmann, N., Hardy-Cox, D., MacLeod, M., Mezo, P., Porr, C., Rohr, L. & Barter Trenholm, S. (2011). Interdisciplinary Cooperation in Teaching and Learning at Memorial UniversityReport of the Working Group on Interdisciplinary Cooperation. [Electronic document], http://www.delts.mun.ca/faculty/teachinglearning/ACR_Intdisc_Coop_Report.pdf.: 
Wetterö, J., Pettersson, S. & Holmgren Pettersson, K. (2006). The morphology and cytoskeleton of cells – a CDIO project for 2nd semester students in engineering biology. Proceedings of the 2nd International CDIO Conference, Linköping University, Linköping, June 13-14, 2006.: 
Go to top
randomness