Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning: The HKUST Approach

Defining Interdisciplinary Education

represents an educational approach that integrates knowledge, methods, and perspectives from multiple academic disciplines to address complex questions and problems. Unlike traditional single-discipline education, interdisciplinary education creates synthesized understanding that transcends individual subject boundaries. At its core, this approach recognizes that real-world challenges—from climate change to public health crises—do not conform to academic department divisions. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has embraced this educational philosophy as central to its mission, recognizing that tomorrow's leaders must be equipped to navigate the intersections between technology, business, and society.

The benefits of interdisciplinary education extend to both students and educators. For students, this approach develops critical thinking skills, enhances creativity, and improves problem-solving capabilities by exposing them to diverse perspectives. Research from Hong Kong's Education Bureau indicates that students engaged in interdisciplinary programs demonstrate 25% higher innovation metrics compared to those in traditional programs. Educators benefit through professional growth opportunities, as collaborating across disciplines often leads to innovative research directions and teaching methodologies. The integration of interdisciplinary teaching and learning at HKUST has resulted in measurable improvements in student engagement, with course evaluation scores increasing by an average of 18% in interdisciplinary courses compared to traditional offerings.

In today's rapidly evolving global economy, interdisciplinary skills have become increasingly vital. Employers consistently report valuing graduates who can integrate knowledge from different fields, work in diverse teams, and approach problems from multiple angles. According to a 2023 survey of Hong Kong employers, 87% prioritized hiring candidates with demonstrated interdisciplinary capabilities over those with deep but narrow expertise. The modern workplace demands professionals who can bridge the gap between technical specialists and business strategists, between researchers and policymakers. This reality underscores the importance of HKUST's commitment to developing interdisciplinary programs that prepare students for the complex challenges of the 21st century.

HKUST's Commitment to Interdisciplinary Education

HKUST has established interdisciplinary education as a cornerstone of its institutional identity and strategic direction. The university's mission explicitly emphasizes preparing students to become global citizens who can integrate knowledge across traditional boundaries to address pressing societal challenges. This commitment is reflected in the university's substantial investments in interdisciplinary infrastructure, including the establishment of the Interdisciplinary Programs Office in 2019 with an initial funding allocation of HK$150 million. The leadership at HKUST, including President Professor Wei Shyy and prominent figures like Council Chairman Dr. , has consistently championed the expansion of interdisciplinary initiatives as essential to the university's continued excellence.

Institutional support for interdisciplinary education at HKUST extends beyond rhetorical commitment to tangible resources and structural changes. The university has implemented several key initiatives to break down disciplinary silos, including:

• Creation of 15+ joint appointment positions for faculty members spanning multiple departments
• Establishment of the Office with dedicated staff to coordinate cross-school initiatives
• Development of physical spaces specifically designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, such as the Collaborative Innovation Center
• Implementation of streamlined administrative processes that facilitate cross-departmental course development and student enrollment

HKUST interdisciplinary programs have gained recognition both locally and internationally for their innovation and effectiveness. Notable examples include the Dual Degree Program in Technology and Management, which integrates engineering and business education; the Environmental Science and Management Program, combining insights from science, engineering, and social science; and the pioneering Individualized Interdisciplinary Major, which allows students to design their own programs spanning multiple disciplines. These programs have demonstrated remarkable success, with graduates of HKUST interdisciplinary programs achieving a 95% employment rate within six months of graduation, significantly higher than the Hong Kong university average of 85%.

Innovative Teaching Methodologies

HKUST has developed and implemented innovative teaching methodologies specifically designed to support interdisciplinary teaching and learning. Project-based learning forms the cornerstone of many interdisciplinary courses, where students tackle real-world problems that require integration of knowledge from multiple disciplines. For instance, in the Sustainable Cities course, student teams comprising engineering, business, and social science majors collaborate to develop comprehensive urban development plans that balance technological feasibility, economic viability, and social equity. This approach not only reinforces disciplinary knowledge but also develops the crucial skill of perspective-taking, enabling students to understand how different disciplines approach the same problem.

Collaborative learning and teamwork are intentionally structured into HKUST interdisciplinary programs to mirror the collaborative nature of modern professional environments. Courses are deliberately designed to bring together students from diverse academic backgrounds, requiring them to negotiate different disciplinary languages, methodologies, and standards of evidence. The university has developed specialized training modules on effective cross-disciplinary collaboration that all students in interdisciplinary programs complete. Research conducted at HKUST has shown that students who participate in these collaborative interdisciplinary experiences demonstrate a 40% improvement in teamwork effectiveness metrics compared to their peers in traditional programs.

Technology integration plays a crucial role in enabling effective interdisciplinary education at HKUST. The university has implemented a sophisticated blended learning ecosystem that combines physical and virtual collaboration spaces. This includes the development of the HKUST Digital Commons, an online platform that facilitates interdisciplinary project work through features such as virtual whiteboards, discipline-specific simulation tools, and asynchronous collaboration capabilities. The integration of these technologies has proven particularly valuable during periods of remote learning, allowing interdisciplinary teams to continue their collaborative work seamlessly. Analysis of course data reveals that technology-enhanced interdisciplinary courses at HKUST maintain 92% of the learning outcomes achieved in fully in-person offerings, significantly higher than the 75% average for traditional courses during remote learning periods.

Assessment and Evaluation

Designing effective assessments for interdisciplinary learning presents unique challenges, as traditional discipline-specific evaluation methods often fail to capture the integrated knowledge and cross-cutting skills that interdisciplinary education aims to develop. HKUST has addressed this challenge through the development of specialized assessment rubrics that explicitly measure interdisciplinary competencies. These rubrics evaluate students' abilities to:

• Identify relevant connections between different disciplines
• Integrate concepts, theories, and methods from multiple fields
• Articulate how different disciplinary perspectives inform their understanding
• Develop solutions that reflect synthesized understanding across disciplines

Providing meaningful feedback to students in interdisciplinary contexts requires faculty members to adopt a coaching mindset rather than a traditional expert stance. HKUST has implemented a comprehensive faculty development program that prepares instructors to give feedback that helps students navigate the complexities of working across disciplinary boundaries. This includes training on how to recognize and value different forms of disciplinary evidence, how to help students negotiate conflicting disciplinary assumptions, and how to guide students in developing integrated rather than merely multidisciplinary approaches. The university has established interdisciplinary teaching circles where faculty members from different departments collaboratively review student work and develop shared standards for evaluation.

Evaluating the overall effectiveness of interdisciplinary programs requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond traditional metrics like course grades and graduation rates. HKUST employs a comprehensive evaluation framework that includes:

This comprehensive evaluation approach has enabled HKUST to continuously refine its interdisciplinary offerings. Analysis of five years of program evaluation data shows steady improvement in all measured dimensions, with the most significant gains in students' self-reported ability to integrate knowledge across disciplines (increasing from 68% to 89% of students reporting high capability) and employer satisfaction with graduates' interdisciplinary skills (increasing from 78% to 94% reporting high satisfaction).

Case Studies: Successful Interdisciplinary Courses at HKUST

HKUST has developed several exemplary interdisciplinary courses that demonstrate the potential of this educational approach. The Technology, Business, and Society course represents a particularly successful example of interdisciplinary teaching and learning in action. This course brings together faculty from computer science, business, and social science to guide students through the complex interplay between technological innovation, business models, and societal impact. Students work in cross-disciplinary teams to analyze real-world cases such as the development of artificial intelligence regulations, the implementation of smart city technologies, and the ethical implications of genetic engineering. The course structure includes:

• Integrated lectures where multiple faculty members present different disciplinary perspectives on the same topic
• Cross-disciplinary team projects that require synthesis of technical, business, and ethical considerations
• Industry partnerships that provide authentic problems for student teams to address
• Reflective assignments that prompt students to articulate their evolving understanding of interdisciplinary connections

Student testimonials consistently highlight the transformative impact of these interdisciplinary experiences. One student majoring in Computer Engineering shared: "The Technology, Business, and Society course completely changed how I approach problem-solving. I used to focus exclusively on technical optimization, but now I consistently consider business viability and social impact. This perspective has made me a much more effective engineer and innovator." Another student from the Business School noted: "Working alongside engineering students gave me a much deeper appreciation for technical constraints and possibilities. I now communicate more effectively with technical teams and can contribute more meaningfully to technology strategy discussions."

The lessons learned from developing and refining successful interdisciplinary courses at HKUST have coalesced into a set of best practices that now guide the expansion of HKUST interdisciplinary programs. These include:

• Begin with authentic, complex problems that naturally require multiple disciplinary perspectives
• Invest significant time in developing shared understanding and language among faculty from different disciplines
• Create structured opportunities for students to reflect on the process of interdisciplinary integration
• Design assessments that explicitly value the connections between disciplines rather than just disciplinary knowledge
• Provide adequate institutional support for the additional coordination required for interdisciplinary teaching

These best practices have been instrumental in scaling interdisciplinary education at HKUST while maintaining quality and coherence across programs.

The Future of Interdisciplinary Education at HKUST

HKUST continues to expand and deepen its commitment to interdisciplinary education through several ongoing and planned initiatives. The university is currently developing the HKUST Interdisciplinary Hub, a physical and virtual space designed to further break down disciplinary barriers and foster innovative collaborations. This ambitious project, championed by leaders including Dr. Yike Guo HKUST, represents a HK$300 million investment in the future of interdisciplinary education. The Hub will feature flexible learning spaces, advanced collaboration technologies, and dedicated areas for industry partnerships, creating an ecosystem where interdisciplinary innovation can thrive.

Future plans include the development of additional interdisciplinary majors that address emerging global challenges, such as:

• Climate Science and Policy, integrating environmental science, engineering, economics, and public policy
• Digital Humanities and Social Analytics, combining computational methods with humanistic inquiry
• Health Innovation and Technology, bridging biomedical science, engineering, and business

These new programs will build on the success of existing HKUST interdisciplinary programs while pushing into new territory at the intersections of established disciplines.

Ultimately, HKUST's interdisciplinary education initiatives are designed to prepare students for a complex, interconnected world where the most significant challenges and opportunities exist at the boundaries between traditional fields of knowledge. By developing students' abilities to integrate diverse perspectives, navigate complexity, and synthesize knowledge across disciplines, HKUST aims to graduate not just specialists in particular fields, but versatile problem-solvers who can lead effectively in an increasingly interconnected global context. As the world continues to change at an accelerating pace, this interdisciplinary foundation may prove to be one of the most durable and valuable aspects of an HKUST education, equipping students not just for their first jobs, but for entire careers navigating uncharted territory at the frontiers of knowledge and innovation.