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3 disciplines
350+ students
Semi-structured group project
Industry linked
Case 1
Module 6: (Product Development) Consumer Products
This module connects three engineering orientated programmes: Industrial Engineering Management (IEM), Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Industrial Design Engineering. The three tracks follow their own courses with some overlap; the collaborative project is where the students contribute to an authentic interdisciplinary challenge hosted by an industrial stakeholder. The separate disciplines learn their own applicable theory in parallel to the others, but fuse this knowledge into the project. The stakeholder, who is from a renowned company, shares a particular product problem that needs to be solved and along with tutors connects with students at various times over the course of the module.
Module 6: Consumer Products underwent 3 iterative interventions within the STRIPES initiative from November 2019 until February 2021. The first phase identified the value perceptions and challenges of the interdisciplinary nature of the project. Thereafter, recommendations such as enhancing the balance of the IEM students’ role as well as supporting the interdisciplinary collaboration through skills training were implemented and refined.
What we learned
- Forming ID collaborative groups- it is not enough to assume students will collaborate well naturally; one needs to support students to a) cross boundaries and integrate knowledge, b) work effectively in teams.
- The balance of task and the importance of students having the ability to contribute their discipline meaningfully and visibly must be planned before the commencement of the module.
More Information
Related Publications
Johnson-Veldhuis C. (2020)
Challenges and value perceptions of an interdisciplinary module at the University of Twente: A descriptive study
Johnson, C. & Veen, J. T. (2020)
Industry-linked project work: Interdisciplinarity with design, engineering and management students
