Today, most universities are organized in disciplinary departments where discipline based programme coordinators design curricula and learning is mainly based on disciplinary approaches. The emerging view is that to solve the more complex societal problems, more interdisciplinary approaches are required. In our study at the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), we investigated what the prerequisites are for the design and delivery of interdisciplinary courses in a discipline-based university. We have interviewed 18 staff members involved in interdisciplinary courses and analyzed their experiences, thoughts, and needs in interdisciplinary course design and delivery. Results indicate that several competencies and experiences for staff members are necessary, such as open-mindedness, stepping out of the spotlight, and having worked in the industry. Furthermore, the disciplinary structure at TU Delft is currently felt to hamper interfaculty collaboration.
