How Students Experience and Perceive Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Implications for Scaffolding Interdisciplinary Learning Processes
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| Title: | How Students Experience and Perceive Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Implications for Scaffolding Interdisciplinary Learning Processes |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Anna Augusta Fornø (ORCID |
| Source: | European Journal of Engineering Education. 2026 51(2):266-283. |
| Availability: | Taylor & Francis. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 18 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Undergraduate Students, Engineering Education, Interdisciplinary Approach, Teamwork, Cooperation, Scaffolding (Teaching Technique), Student Experience, Courses, Science and Society, Problem Solving, Peer Relationship, Interpersonal Communication, Partnerships in Education, Learning Activities |
| Geographic Terms: | Denmark |
| DOI: | 10.1080/03043797.2025.2543773 |
| ISSN: | 0304-3797 1469-5898 |
| Abstract: | The integration of interdisciplinarity in engineering education is rapidly advancing, acknowledging the need for future engineers to be able to collaborate across disciplines to develop solutions to complex, societal challenges. Due to the complexities of interdisciplinary collaboration, engineering students often struggle with these processes. Here, we investigate how students perceive and experience interdisciplinary collaborations and what implications this may have for scaffolding interdisciplinary learning processes. We find six important themes regarding how students perceive and experience interdisciplinary teamwork: (1) Establishing common ground for constructive collaboration, (2) Communication is key to handling conflicts, (3) The case sets the stage for (disciplinary) participation, (4) Collaborations with external partners shape the project, (5) Attitudes towards the course change over time, and (6) Students' self-reported interdisciplinary learning gains. From these, we derive implications for scaffolding interdisciplinary learning processes, underlining the importance of supporting the teamwork process, particularly in the early stages. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1503096 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The integration of interdisciplinarity in engineering education is rapidly advancing, acknowledging the need for future engineers to be able to collaborate across disciplines to develop solutions to complex, societal challenges. Due to the complexities of interdisciplinary collaboration, engineering students often struggle with these processes. Here, we investigate how students perceive and experience interdisciplinary collaborations and what implications this may have for scaffolding interdisciplinary learning processes. We find six important themes regarding how students perceive and experience interdisciplinary teamwork: (1) Establishing common ground for constructive collaboration, (2) Communication is key to handling conflicts, (3) The case sets the stage for (disciplinary) participation, (4) Collaborations with external partners shape the project, (5) Attitudes towards the course change over time, and (6) Students' self-reported interdisciplinary learning gains. From these, we derive implications for scaffolding interdisciplinary learning processes, underlining the importance of supporting the teamwork process, particularly in the early stages. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0304-3797 1469-5898 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/03043797.2025.2543773 |
