Perspective: Promoting and fostering multidisciplinary research in universities

Austin Arnold, Anne Cafer, John Green, Seena Haines, Georgianna Mann and Meagen Rosenthal

Research Policy, 2021, vol. 50, issue 9

Abstract: Focus on interdisciplinary research has become necessary for contemporary research endeavors to keep pace with the complex issues facing society. However, the current academic system has not adapted to foster interdisciplinary research among university faculty and researchers. Faculty seeking promotion and tenure often experience pressure to complete individual scholarly work to gain appropriate recognition for the promotion and tenure process. This commentary outlines a series of recommendations for faculty, department chairs, centers and institutes, and university administration to promote interdisciplinary research based on experiences with a university initiative intended to foster interdisciplinary research. Many of these recommendations, such as increasing communication, are activities that faculty and chairs can implement immediately. Other recommendations will take more time and financial investment from universities. The authors hope this commentary helps other institutions innovate efficiently to support interdisciplinary research that can address the growing complexity of problems facing our communities and the world.

Keywords: Interdisciplinary research; Organizational policy; Academia; Faculty development; Tenure; Promotion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:respol:v:50:y:2021:i:9:s0048733321001335

DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2021.104334

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