Sustainable development and cross-disciplinary research education: Challenges and opportunities for learning

• Main Authors: Malin Mobjörk, Camilla Berglund, Mikael Granberg, Magnus Johansson
• Format: Article
• Language: Danish
• Published: Cappelen Damm Akademisk NOASP 2020-06-01
• Series: Högre Utbildning
• Subjects: sustainable development; research education; cross-disciplinary; interdisciplinary; transdisciplinary
• Online Access: https://hogreutbildning.se/index.php/hu/article/view/1942/4301

It is widely accepted that cross-disciplinarity influences education in issues of sustainability and sustainable development. However, despite a large body of research on cross-disciplinarity, less attention has been given to how it shapes research education. Research education is a formative phase in a researcher’s intellectual development and this article considers the whole research education process, including both its formal and informal aspects. It explores this arena and builds on the experiences of PhD candidates engaged in research education characterised by cross-disciplinarity in the realm of sustainable development. Drawing on pedagogical research on socialisation, this article examines how research education is organised in four research milieus and the experiences of PhD candidates pursuing their education in these learning contexts. The aim is to provide insights into how these research milieus can facilitate future cross-disciplinary research education on sustainable development. The analysis finds that in research milieus that provide courses and seminars about cross-disciplinarity, PhD candidates are more confident in situating their own research. The engagement of senior staff and supervisors in these activities is also key to develop a conceptual apparatus and building the capacity to interact with different disciplines and practitioners. Furthermore, the findings show the importance of communicating about cross-disciplinarity throughout the research education process, starting when PhD candidates are recruited and supervisors are appointed.