We build on our interdisciplinary efforts and encourage further interdisciplinary connections and cooperation in our teaching and research.
This priority plays a key role in our mission and strategy. It is one of our core aspirations. It is a fact that interdisciplinarity is needed to solve complex societal problems and thus create impact. We use the terms interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity in our plan, aware that the interpretation of these terms is complex.
Interdisciplinarity is a tricky concept. There are many related concepts with different interpretations: multidisciplinarity, cross-disciplinarity, pluridisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity. The pillar of interdisciplinarity influences all our strategic ambitions and activities. In this chapter, each strategic priority is presented as a theme. We start with a long-term ambition for each theme and then define the strategic goals and actions for implementation.
In order to create positive social impact, it is not enough just to excel in research and provide excellent education. We need to make a much greater effort. The pillar of interdisciplinarity influences all our strategic ambitions and activities. In this chapter, each strategic priority is presented as a theme. We start with a long-term ambition for each theme and then define the strategic goals and actions for implementation.
We also explain the connection: how will the theme contribute to the impact and what are the interdisciplinary preconditions? To emphasise the importance of an integrated approach, interdisciplinarity is not a separate theme, but embedded in all other themes.