Interdisciplinary collaboration expands knowledge horizons
Published: 03:08 PM,Aug 12,2021 | EDITED : 07:08 PM,Aug 12,2021
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It is a fact that interdisciplinary collaborative efforts find solutions to several complex real-world problems in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era. Not every Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the Sultanate offers programmes in all disciplines within their institution. This however must not be a barrier to leveraging cross-disciplinary research in such HEIs.
Studies confirm that enabling collaborative learning environments boosts the involvement of students to be responsible and accountable for the success of their own learning, while collaboratively working towards finding a solution to a problem that equips them to be successful in the workplace in future.
Here is a success story narrating an inter-institutional collaborative set-up established to work on an interdisciplinary research problem: a case study that aimed at bringing together students of diverse disciplines (Computer Science and Biotechnology) from two different HEIs in Oman to collaboratively work towards finding a computational solution to a biological problem, mentored by teachers at both HEIs. The project was successfully completed and resulted in a joint publication.
Moreover, such inter-institutional collaborative ventures give advantages to students to collaborate with external student communities. The whole exercise aimed to provide students with a new perspective of student interaction, student experience, student learning in higher education and the importance of interdisciplinary research and inter-professional respect in a collaborative environment. It also helps students improve the collaborative skills that would help them succeed in their careers.
“It was an amazing and distinctive learning experience collaborating with students at another college studying in a different discipline. It was a great learning experience while exchanging our knowledge and ideas over the slack platform. I am now confident to work in an interprofessional environment,” said Mohamed bin Yousuf bin Said al Rawahi of Middle East College.
The author is Head, Centre for Postgraduate Studies, Middle East College. smitha@mec.edu.om
Studies confirm that enabling collaborative learning environments boosts the involvement of students to be responsible and accountable for the success of their own learning, while collaboratively working towards finding a solution to a problem that equips them to be successful in the workplace in future.
Here is a success story narrating an inter-institutional collaborative set-up established to work on an interdisciplinary research problem: a case study that aimed at bringing together students of diverse disciplines (Computer Science and Biotechnology) from two different HEIs in Oman to collaboratively work towards finding a computational solution to a biological problem, mentored by teachers at both HEIs. The project was successfully completed and resulted in a joint publication.
Moreover, such inter-institutional collaborative ventures give advantages to students to collaborate with external student communities. The whole exercise aimed to provide students with a new perspective of student interaction, student experience, student learning in higher education and the importance of interdisciplinary research and inter-professional respect in a collaborative environment. It also helps students improve the collaborative skills that would help them succeed in their careers.
“It was an amazing and distinctive learning experience collaborating with students at another college studying in a different discipline. It was a great learning experience while exchanging our knowledge and ideas over the slack platform. I am now confident to work in an interprofessional environment,” said Mohamed bin Yousuf bin Said al Rawahi of Middle East College.
The author is Head, Centre for Postgraduate Studies, Middle East College. smitha@mec.edu.om