Interdisciplinarity: Best practices, and issues in doctoral programs
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2026
Yazarlar: Yılmaz TONBUL
INNOVATIONS IN EDUCATION AND TEACHING INTERNATIONAL, SSCI İndekslerine Giren Dergi, Uluslararası, Social Sciences Citation Index, 2026, cilt 64, ss 1-17
DOI: 10.1080/14703297.2026.2653142
Özet
This study explores the necessity, good practices, and challenges of interdisciplinary doctoral programmes using a multi-method design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. Based on data from faculty members and doctoral students in Türkiye and eleven other countries, it identifies effective practices that foster interdisciplinary thinking, academic identity, and professional development. Findings show that such programmes are essential for employability, addressing complex problems, and driving academic transformation. Project-based learning, sectoral collaboration, and internationalisation most strongly support students’ growth, while institutional facilitation and theory – practice integration remain limited. Systemic and cultural barriers include restricted institutional autonomy, insufficient advisory support, and the absence of a shared interdisciplinary identity. Addressing these issues requires restructuring institutes as active learning facilitators, improving faculty pedagogical skills, and aligning curricula with interdisciplinary goals. Overall, the study highlights how interdisciplinary environments enhance creativity, problem-solving, and social responsibility – key competencies for the evolving global research landscape.