Autumn School in Governance, Design and Delivery of Interdisciplinary Higher Education

interdisciplinary research

Governance, Design and Delivery of Interdisciplinary Higher Education

Interdisciplinary education has become a significant point of development across higher education systems, spanning bachelor’s and master’s programmes, doctoral training and continuing education. At the same time, it has become evident that interdisciplinarity cannot be sustained without appropriate institutional structures. It requires careful design, coordination and ongoing reflection on how knowledge is organised, taught and assessed. Developing interdisciplinary education raises questions that are simultaneously intellectual and institutional. How can different disciplinary traditions be brought into meaningful dialogue within courses and programmes? How should supervision be organised when doctoral candidates work across fields? What constitutes appropriate evaluation criteria for interdisciplinary work? And how can existing structures in higher education support, rather than inadvertently constrain, collaboration across boundaries?

Who should apply?

The Autumn School is intended for participants who are involved in developing, organising or supporting interdisciplinary education in higher education, and who have (or would like to take on) a role as changemakers in their institutional settings.

Relevant participants may include:

  • Academic leaders responsible for interdisciplinary educational innovation
  • Academic staff engaged in interdisciplinary teaching or programme development
  • Doctoral supervisors and researchers working across disciplinary boundaries
  • Professional staff supporting interdisciplinary initiatives or cross faculty collaboration

Participants are encouraged to bring questions and examples from their own institutional contexts.

What to expect

The programme focuses particularly on doctoral training as a key arena for experimentation and institutional development in interdisciplinary education.

During the week, participants will engage in:

  • Keynote lectures from international scholars
  • Masterclasses addressing concrete institutional challenges
  • Interactive workshops using research informed tools and case material
  • Structured discussions based on participants’ own experiences

The programme also marks the launch of the SPINE project, which examines how collaborative infrastructures at doctoral level can better support interdisciplinary research within existing academic settings, with particular attention to biomedical, natural science and clinical domains. Members of the project’s international advisory board will contribute as speakers and engage directly in discussion with participants.

Dedicated time throughout the week will be reserved for exchange and reflection. The aim is to support participants in translating insights and frameworks into concrete steps and actions within their own departments and institutions.