The Challenges of Interdisciplinarity in Higher Education: the Role of the Course Coordinator in Special Projects and Activities

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13058/raep.2020.v21n1.1523

Keywords:

Interdisciplinarity, Interdisciplinary activities, Interdisciplinary projects, Analysis of social networks, Course coordinators

Abstract

This is a descriptive exploratory study carried out in a Brazilian Higher Education Institution (IES) with the participation of the coordinators for their importance in the joint actions among courses. This work analyzed the relationship among coordinators and how well they know and promote interdisciplinary actions based on the Projects and Special Activities (PAEs) developed in the institution. Besides, the coordinators evaluated the dimensions considered essential for the success of interdisciplinary work. The questionnaire data answered by the coordinators were interpreted through the Social Network Analysis (ARS) using UciNet V6 software. It was concluded that interdisciplinary actions are incipient among the coordinators. The “Effective Communication” dimension had the higher score among respondents to consolidate interdisciplinarity. On the other hand, the dimension “Individual characteristics” had the lowest score. Individual actions are highlighted to promote and disseminate interdisciplinary activities and interdisciplinarity is on the agenda of the IES, but there is no evidence of institutional action to strengthen the relationship among coordinators. Characteristics of the coordinator and or course make certain courses appear as “islands of knowledge”.

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Author Biographies

David Garcia Penof, Universidade Municipal de São Caetano do Sul, São Caetano do Sul, SP

Master in Business Administration - Universidade Municipal de São Caetano do Sul

Sandra Bergamini Leonardo, Centro Universitário do Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia, São Caetano do Sul, SP

Phd in Business Administration - Universidade Municipal de São Caetano do Sul

Milton Carlos Farina, Universidade Municipal de São Caetano do Sul, São Caetano do Sul, SP

Phd in Business Administration - FEA/USP

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Published

2020-01-02

How to Cite

Penof, D. G., Leonardo, S. B., & Farina, M. C. (2020). The Challenges of Interdisciplinarity in Higher Education: the Role of the Course Coordinator in Special Projects and Activities. Administração: Ensino E Pesquisa, 21(1), 24–51. https://doi.org/10.13058/raep.2020.v21n1.1523

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 1 (2020): January-April

Section

Articles

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