eprintid: 10197280
rev_number: 7
eprint_status: archive
userid: 699
dir: disk0/10/19/72/80
datestamp: 2024-09-19 10:29:25
lastmod: 2024-09-19 10:29:25
status_changed: 2024-09-19 10:29:25
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 699
creators_name: Richards, Mary E
creators_name: Hussein, Mandekh
creators_name: Castro-Sánchez, Enrique
creators_name: Martin, Olwenn
title: Breaching boundaries: reflections on the journey towards a transdisciplinary arts and sciences undergraduate degree programme to address global challenges
ispublished: pub
divisions: UCL
divisions: B03
divisions: C01
divisions: K22
note: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
abstract: This commentary reflects upon the progress, limitations, and some of the pitfalls of one UK London-based HE institution’s development of a trans-disciplinary arts and sciences undergraduate degree programme specifically designed to build knowledge and confidence in students to both reflect upon and effectively respond in constructive and just ways to some of the ‘global challenges’ facing society. It does not challenge the importance and necessity of specialist expertise but sees the potential of a trans-disciplinary approach to education as not just complementary but increasingly valuable to a wider range of graduates. Graduates needed to lead systems change and facilitate wider appreciation and practical understanding of multidimensional problem-solving, the importance of stakeholder engagement and more holistic systems thinking, something that should not be limited to those who have the opportunity and means to study Masters or PhD degrees. As one of a few UK universities that offer inter-disciplinary or trans-disciplinary undergraduate degrees and with some added insights from a former colleague who now works on University College London’s (UCL) interdisciplinary BASc, we offer the following suggestions and advice for those interested in working towards developing trans-disciplinary provision. This includes the development of a financial model that allows students and staff to work between departments or faculties; an administrative structure that promotes communication and information sharing between different departments without compromising the requirements of data protection; the buy-in and support of senior leaders who both understand and can advocate for the benefits of a trans-disciplinary approach and explicit university-wide recognition of the staff who work on such programmes in terms of career progression and support for the trans-disciplinary research they undertake.
date: 2024-05-31
date_type: published
publisher: SPRINGERNATURE
official_url: http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03165-4
oa_status: green
full_text_type: pub
language: eng
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
verified: verified_manual
elements_id: 2285352
doi: 10.1057/s41599-024-03165-4
lyricists_name: Martin, Olwenn
lyricists_id: OMART84
actors_name: Martin, Olwenn
actors_id: OMART84
actors_role: owner
full_text_status: public
publication: Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
volume: 11
article_number: 709
pages: 8
issn: 2662-9992
citation:        Richards, Mary E;    Hussein, Mandekh;    Castro-Sánchez, Enrique;    Martin, Olwenn;      (2024)    Breaching boundaries: reflections on the journey towards a transdisciplinary arts and sciences undergraduate degree programme to address global challenges.                   Humanities and Social Sciences Communications , 11     , Article 709.  10.1057/s41599-024-03165-4 <https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03165-4>.       Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10197280/1/s41599-024-03165-4%20%281%29.pdf