The Challenges of Interdisciplinarity in Higher Education: the Role of the Course Coordinator in Special Projects and Activities

Abstract

This is a descriptive exploratory study carried out in a Brazilian Higher Education Institution (IES) with the participation of the coordinators for their importance in the joint actions among courses. This work analyzed the relationship among coordinators and how well they know and promote interdisciplinary actions based on the Projects and Special Activities (PAEs) developed in the institution. Besides, the coordinators evaluated the dimensions considered essential for the success of interdisciplinary work. The questionnaire data answered by the coordinators were interpreted through the Social Network Analysis (ARS) using UciNet V6 software. It was concluded that interdisciplinary actions are incipient among the coordinators. The Effective Communication dimension had the higher score among respondents to consolidate interdisciplinarity. On the other hand, the dimension Individual characteristics had the lowest score. Individual actions are highlighted to promote and disseminate interdisciplinary activities and interdisciplinarity is on the agenda of the IES, but there is no evidence of institutional action to strengthen the relationship among coordinators. Characteristics of the coordinator and or course make certain courses appear as islands of knowledge.