Interdisciplinarity is widely considered necessary to solving many contemporary problems, and new funding structures and instruments have been created to encourage interdisciplinary research at universities. In this article, we study a small technical university specializing in green technology which implemented a strategy aimed at promoting and…

The field of biomedical research has undergone several changes in recent years. These include increased funding, the rapid development in scientific knowledge which speeds up the obsolescence of equipment, facilities and knowledge and the growing complexity of scientific problems. Research administrators can take steps to address these changes…

Nowadays, the concept of innovation is omnipresent in most political discourses as well as in technological, socio-economic and scientific development plans. Innovation is essential for solving complex problems in new ways, which can lead countries to development and prosperity. The realisation of an innovation is not the result of a random act,…

Transcending disciplinary boundaries is becoming increasingly important for devising solutions to the world's most pressing issues, such as climate change and food insecurity. Institutions of higher education often present challenges to teaching students how to work and innovate on transdisciplinary teams. We first define transdisciplinarity and…

Operating a museum in a high poverty, underserved area creates many challenges related to accessibility, programming, and funding. Over the course of nearly a decade, the Ohio Valley Museum of Discovery (OVMoD) has identified several organizational practices that help mitigate these challenges. Located in the southeastern corner of Appalachian…

American society is currently experiencing a surging interest in contemplative practices. The secularization and professionalization of contemplative practices can be seen in the adoption of mindfulness-based approaches in sectors as wide-ranging as technology, nonprofit, and higher education. Amongst all these fields, institutions of higher…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the rationale for and potential of World Health Organization (WHO) health promoting schools (HPS) in Africa. Design/Methodology/Approach: Overview of the related literature and presentations at the 2011 Stellenbosch international colloquium on HPS relating to sub-Saharan Africa. Findings: Schools…

Capstone design courses are an increasingly common component of engineering curricula nationwide, but how much do we really know about the current practices? How do capstone courses differ across departments and institutions? How have capstone courses changed in the past 10 years? This paper highlights data from a survey of engineering capstone…

"National CrossTalk" is a publication of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. The National Center promotes public policies that enhance opportunities for quality education and training beyond high school. The primary purpose of "National CrossTalk" is to stimulate informed discussion and debate of higher…

The mission of the National Academy for Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (NAIRTL) is to ensure that all higher education students are exposed to cutting edge research in their classrooms, and that students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels are actively engaged in relevant and authentic research in their chosen discipline. To…

Montana rural special educators (109) answering a questionnaire indicated 40% of rural/isolated classrooms are not complying with the law requiring interdisciplinary teams to educate handicapped students. In many schools one special education teacher serves as interdisciplinary team/total service provider. Teacher training programs should be…

Issues in sponsored research are addressed: institutional commitment and targeted budget allocations, administrative and faculty commitment--structure and support services; sponsored research and institutional characteristics; and faculty development programs--research-oriented. (MLW)

In this article, the authors review the way in which the Victorian government has responded to the inclusion of students with special educational needs (SEN) in mainstream schools, and consider what further efforts could be made to improve inclusive educational practices. Key measures introduced by the state education authority in relation to the…

A shrinking, interdependent world has placed an increasing premium on international competence, an area of national priority for the United States. Five steps are necessary for achieving a certain degree of international competence: (1) wide sectors of American leadership, in both private and public life, must recognize the existence and…

The curriculum committee of the American Industrial Arts Association, recognizing the necessity for the involvement of industrial arts teachers in environmental awareness, prepared the publication to assist teachers in such topics as: rationale for study, careers, funding, and resource materials. An introductory article comments on environmental…