Factors Influencing Interdisciplinary Research and Industry-Academia Collaborations at Six European Universities: A Qualitative Study

Luka Ursić, Godfrey Baldacchino, Željana Bašić, Ana Belén Sainz, Ivan Buljan, Miriam Hampel, Ivana Kružić, Mia Majić, Ana Marušić, Franck Thetiot, Ružica Tokalić and Leandra Vranješ Markić
Additional contact information
Luka Ursić: Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health, Centre for Evidence-based Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Godfrey Baldacchino: Department of Sociology, University of Malta, 2080 Msida, Malta
Željana Bašić: Department of Forensic Sciences, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Ana Belén Sainz: International Centre for Theory of Quantum Technologies, University of Gdańsk, 80-309 Gdansk, Poland
Ivan Buljan: Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health, Centre for Evidence-based Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Miriam Hampel: Department of Physical Chemistry, Institute for Marine Research (INMAR), University of Cadiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
Ivana Kružić: Department of Forensic Sciences, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Mia Majić: The European University of the Seas Project Office, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Ana Marušić: Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health, Centre for Evidence-based Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Franck Thetiot: Department of Chemistry, University of Brest (UBO), 29238 Brest, France
Ružica Tokalić: Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health, Centre for Evidence-based Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Leandra Vranješ Markić: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 15, 1-24

Abstract: The introduction of interdisciplinarity and industry-academia collaborations (IAC) into higher education institutions (HEIs) and curricula as tools for promoting sustainable development has been debated both in academic and non-academic contexts. While overall rising trends in the acceptance of interdisciplinarity and IAC exist, research has stressed difficulty in implementation and practices. We conducted eight focus groups at six European Universities (members of the SEA-EU alliance) and analysed the transcripts using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic approach to qualitative analysis in order to develop themes on barriers and facilitators to both conducting interdisciplinarity and IAC, as well as the inclusion of university students in interdisciplinary research. We observed that the main barriers to IR and IAC and the inclusion of students in such activities include traditional HEI structures focused on single-discipline approaches, a lack of joint platforms for IR and IAC, and academic differences (publication outcome differences, academic background). Likewise, a lack of funding (especially for early career researchers), employability (for students willing to do a research career), and a lack of validation by HEIs for researchers conducting IR and IAC are major barriers. To IDR- and IAC-related activities, a top-down approach is needed to restructure HEIs and make them more accommodating to both students and staff willing to conduct IR and IAC activities, thus refocusing them towards sustainability.

Keywords: interdisciplinary research; industry-academia collaborations; technology transfer; interdisciplinarity; knowledge transfer; higher education institutions; sustainability; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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