Not all who integrate are academics: zooming in on extra-academic integrative expertise

Julie Mennes ()
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Julie Mennes: Ghent University (UGent)

Palgrave Communications, 2025, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Solving complex problems requires integrating knowledge and skills from various domains. The importance of cross-domain integration has motivated researchers to study integrative expertise: what knowledge and skills help achieve cross-domain integration? Much of the existing research focuses on the integrative expertise of academic researchers who perform inter- and transdisciplinary research. However, academics are not the only ones facilitating integration. In transdisciplinary research, where academics collaborate with professionals, stakeholders, and policymakers, these extra-academic actors can contribute significantly to cross-domain integration. Moreover, many complex problems are addressed entirely outside of universities. This paper contributes to a broader, more inclusive understanding of integrative expertise by drawing attention to the diversity of extra-academic integrative expertise, providing examples of what this expertise looks like in practice, and reflecting on differences with its academic counterpart. The contributions are based on a case study of integrative expertise in Oosterweel Link, a large urban development project in Antwerp, Belgium.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-04661-x

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