Enhancing Interdisciplinary Research in Engineering in Engineering Education
- 1. Enhancing Interdisciplinary Research in Engineering Education Thanikachalam Vedhathiri (vthani2025@yahoo.in)
- 2. Interdisciplinary Research in Engineering Education Interdisciplinary thinking is rapidly becoming an integral feature of engineering research Inherent complexity of nature of engineering planning Design Manufacturing Maintenance Compulsion to explore problems that are not confined to single discipline Power of new digital technologies help the researchers to solve the complex problems
- 3. Challenges to Engineering Education Improving problem-solving abilities of engineering graduates 01 Improving the critical thinking 02 Manage the impact of global warming 03 Advance MOOCs in engineering education 04
- 4. Challenges Providing access to clean water 1 Improving the urban infrastructure 2 Improving cybersecurity 3 Eradicating poverty 4 Improving urban transport system 5 Improving industrial safety 6
- 5. Drivers for Interdisciplinary Research in India The inherent complexity of the Indian Society in the 21st Century Need to explore complex problems in developing human capital Pressure to develop outstanding engineers to meet the challenges Impact of globalized economy Power of digital technology Need for interdisciplinary programs Challenge for interdisciplinary research teams
- 6. Essential Programs (Morse et al.) Developing Sustainable Environment Improved Health Food Security Successful Design Engineers A mindset in the students to pursue interdisciplinary programs
- 7. Needs of the Researchers Higher Order Cognitive Skills and Competencies Diversity in educators, doctoral committee members Complex problems Lifelong learning Interdisciplinary thinking Data mining from similar research works in other fields Details of failures in earlier attempts Needs of various end users
- 8. Real Issues • Volatility • Confusion • Uncertainty • Ambiguity
- 9. Barriers to Interdisciplinary Research in Engineering Education (IRDEE) in India Limited Faculty AICTE has not Recognized PhD in IRDEE for Recruitment Affiliated Engineering Colleges did not Approve IRDEE Lack of Guides for PhD in IRDEE Lack of Research Funds from AICTEE Lack of Resources
- 10. Solomon Bililign (2013) Deal with global challenges Comprehensive understanding of the main social challenges Collaboration of scientists, sociologists, engineers, technologists
- 11. Aboelela et al. (2007) Critical review of health service Link and integrate theoretical frameworks from two or more disciplines Adopt methods and skills from them
- 12. National Academy of Sciences (2005) Prepare engineering students for interdisciplinary, collaborative, and global job market 1 Provide interdisciplinary training 2 Expose problems in global importance 3
- 13. Barriers to Interdisciplinary Research in Engineering Education Funding Communication barrier Personal barriers
- 14. Global Initiatives to Foster Interdisciplinary Research Seed funding for the establishment of interdisciplinary programs Oho State University Rutgers University University of California at Berkeley Virginia Tech Vanderbilt University
- 15. External Funding Agencies for Interdisciplinary Programs NASA USDA Homeland Security
- 16. Success of IDREE Collaborative Skills Attitude Motivation Empowered faculty Decentralized departments Dedicated teams Risk takers Imagination
- 17. Building an Interdisciplinary Teams (Bruhn, 1955 & Grant et al. 1998) Clarity regarding roles, expectations, and authority Clearly articulated protocols in data and resources sharing leadership
- 18. Policies (McGuire, 1999) • Mutually agreed • Acceptable to a majority • Enhance the team members’ personal and professional goals • Discipline • Good interpersonal skills • Dedicated leader • Commitment • Flexibility • Willingness to work
- 19. Interdisciplinary Research in Curriculum Status of Technician Programs in Computers in Kerala State- A Qualitativ e Analysis- Pasupathy. T.D, 2002 01 A Study of the Effectiveness of Curriculum of Three- year Diploma Program in Civil Engineering and its Implementation in Affiliated Polytechnics in Tamil Nadu- Thamilarasu. V, 2004 02 A Study of the Industry-Based Curriculum for Manufacturing Technology to meet the Human Resource Needs of the Chennai Industrial Hub- Sivanesan. T, 2009 03 Development of Model Curriculum for a Flexible Credit based Four Year Degree Program in Building Technology and Management- Mathew. B .V, 2014. 04
- 20. Interdisciplinary Curriculum… 1 A Study of the Effectiveness of the Present Mechanical Engineering Curricula with Preference to Design Competencies- Subbaraj. S, 2014 2 Evaluation of the Computer Sciences/IT Curricula with respect to Software Engineering Skills- Srividhya, 2015 3 Developmen t of Diploma in Animation Engineering- Kurinchi. P, 2017 4 Development of Interdisciplinar y M.Sc. (Forestry) – Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education, under World Bank Sponsorship 5 Developmen t of Diploma in Wood Technology
- 21. Environment Protection of Urban Areas • A Study on the Role of Non-Government Organizations in Protecting Environment at Local Level- Reeni Samuel, 2008
- 22. Women in Engineering Education 2007 Curriculum Improvement Model in Instrumentation and Control Engineering with respect to Women Technicians- Uma Rani. K 2009 A Study of Women Technicians and Engineers in Andaman and Nicobar Islands- Alagu Sundaram.V
- 23. Human Resource Management 2006 Study of Lifelong Learning and the Effectiveness and Development Interventions to Build a Learning Organization- Swaminathan. S 2010 A Study on HRM Challenges faced by Indian Global Corporations in Preparing Managerial Personnel for International Assignment- Muthuvellaippan
- 24. Institutional Development 2009 A Study on Institutional Development to Create Excellence in Technician Education for the 21st Century- Sujatha. S 2012 Performance Management of Heads of Departments in Engineering Institutions- Ponnuswamy. M
- 25. Globalization of Engineering Programs • Analysis of Indian Engineering Institutes’ Capacity to offer Programmes under General Agreements on Trade in Services/ World Trade Organization- Anita. S, 2010
- 26. Postgraduate Programs 2010 A Study of the Effectiveness of the MBA Curriculum and its Implementation in the Business Schools and Colleges in Chennai- India- Athivera Rama Pandian. V 2017 A Study of the Effectiveness of M.E (Postgraduate) Programme in Embedded Systems Technologies and a Model for Curriculum Improvement- Sheebarani Gnanamalar
- 27. Quality Assurance in the Postgraduate Programs • A Multi-Dimensional Perspective Towards Internal Quality Assurance of Second Cycle Programmes in Engineering- Abdul Hakeem, 2015
- 29. Research Focus in Curriculum • Why do we evaluate the curriculum? • Employment stagnation • Balance of the courses • Adequacy of the courses • Relevance of the courses • Need for new courses based on the needs of the industry • Sunrise industry • Career needs of the learners • New skills and competencies • Impact of new technology
- 30. Why do We Develop New Programs • Unprecedented growth of companies due to FDI • GDP increase • Changing needs of the learners • Interdisciplinary skills and competencies • Migration of the graduates • Global challenges • Networking of the institutes • Specialization due to career needs • Cooperative programs • Job shift
- 31. Changes due to Vulnerability, Uncertainty, Complexity • New models • Lifelong learning • Learning organization • Globalization of Indian Industry • International human resource management • Urban growth • Urban reconstruction • High level jobs • Continuous improvement in the technology based industries
- 32. Conclusion Introduce IRDEE in Universities and Autonomous Colleges Introduce Develop industry specific new programs Develop Approve the graduates from IDREE Programs for jobs Approve Provide funds for research programs in IRDEE Provide Evaluate the existing programs against the needs of emerging industries Evaluate Network with the industry, national labs, and institutions in the district Network Develop cooperative programs Develop
- 33. Thank you Your questions please